A Begging Saint Poem by santhana louis

A BEGGING SAINT


JOSPHINE, now 63
lame and invalid, by birth
at the gates of Eda Street,
St. Mary's Rosary Church -
crawling by her palms
for her essential movements,
eking out a living on the meagre alms,

Unnoticed -
still by a majority of worshipers

I have been watching her
for the past 40 odd years
at the same spot
in the same rags
and in the same state
no traces of noticeable changes
understandably,
when the very survival is in stake,
being alive for so long is brave.

I use to meet her without fail
whenever, I come down to Tiruchi
she also knows my family very well
since my marriage, being one of her fosters

I really wonder at her parallel survival
for decades together, without any shelter
household effects, assets of any other nature,
depending only on the uncertain benevolence
many a times, going dry and hungry. ….. no complaints.


I wish, God will take her direct to the Heaven
similar to the way, He treated St. Lazer.

Louis Santhana