Wishing All This Week At Windows (Sunday's Poem 12)

Do You Want Affidavits?
by: Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)

There's a hole in the bottom of the sea.
Do you want affidavits?
There's a man in the moon with money for you.
Do you want affidavits?
There are ten dancing girls in a sea-chamber off Nantucket waiting for you.
There are tall candles in Timbuctoo burning penance for you.
There are--anything else?
Speak now--for now we stand amid the great wishing windows--and the law says we are free to be wishing all this week at the windows.
Shall I raise my right hand and swear to you in the monotone of a notary public? this is "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

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An "affidavit" is a sworn statement. This is the first, and only, poetic use of the word "affidavits" I've ever seen.

True fact: Over 1/2 of the lawyers I talk to use the word "affi-david." As though you're swearing out a Dave.