-By Rebecca Payton,* Charlottesville Living Wage Coalition advocate
– As you sit at your table and say your grace,
Do you thank God for the human race?
As you sip the coffee in your hand,
Do you thank the coffee bean picker from a distant land?
As you pour your milk into your bowl,
Do you thank the farmer for doing the work of his soul?
As your running late and order a fast food muffin,
Do you thank the worker who’s huffin’ and puffin’?
As you wipe the crumbs from your shirt,
Do you thank the garment worker who sews through hurt?
As you sit at your table and say your grace,
Do you thank God for the human race?
As you listen to your young child read,
Do you thank the teacher who sowed the seed?
As you visit with grandma in her nursing home,
Do you thank the aide for grandma’s hair she combed?
As you yawn and stretch and then lay in your bed
Do you thank the worker for the roof over your head?
As you lay on your pillow and turn out the light,
Do you thank the people who work through the night?
Twenty-four seven, service all year round,
So you and your family can sleep very sound.
As you sit at your table and say your grace,
Do you thank God for the human race?
Do you wonder if they’re as well off as you?
Do you wonder if their hard work pays off, too?
Do you ever wonder if they are being exploited
To add to the coffers of those already anointed?
Do you hope when they’re sick and need health care
That insurance is available and the money is there?
For you need the services that they give.
So many services that help you live.
As you sit at your table and say your grace,
Do you thank God for the human race?
Do you ever think of and thank the who
For those who do jobs to take care of you?
Want to thank the humans who are taking care of you?
Then speak up for them, and show that you care, too.
Speak up for them and help them get their fair share,
And show them that you also care.
Speak up for the who and all that they do,
Because the next to be exploited could be you.
* Note: The author, Rebecca Payton, read her poem at the Charlottesville Living Wage Coalition meeting in mid-December to inspire people to think about the economic justice and fair wages for all workers.