Charity

I kept hearing that
Charity begins at home.
Thought I'd take a look.

My family were out.
I looked by the front door first;
Nothing to speak of.

Up along the stairs
I peeked behind the pictures
Again, nearly nothing.

In the living room
I analysed all corners;
Some luck by dad's desk.

Modesty stopped me
From looking in the bedroom
Or the smallest room,

But not the kitchen.
Stuck my head in the oven
(I just had to know)

And saw a small dial
Behind the gas pipe and jets.
'Charity,' it said.

I turned it right up
And sure enough, charity
Poured and poured and poured.

I fell on the floor
And noticed two more dials:
For 'Hope' and for 'Faith'.

I cried out in joy
And ran to call my sister.
But by the time I

Dialed her number,
Well over eighty percent
Had simply vanished.