The Tramp Poem by Kevin Nesbitt

The fire was bright, the room was warm, round the walls the laughter rang. At the bar they stood, buy a nose, take a ticket, save a life and besides it is good for a laugh. In the corner by the fire he sat, staring at his drink upon the mat. And in the crystal of Guinness dark, a picture forms, the loving face of his mother appears, and in the inner ear he hears the laughing voices of his sisters dear. The sun was bright, the voices gay as round and round they did sway. Ring a ring of roses, a pocket full of posies, ahh tissue, ahh tissue, we all fall down. The voice was sharp, the eye a glaze, the silence... wept. Will there be anything else now? The landlord looked down, the old man looked up. A cup of tea and a bottle of Guinness, please. Each drink last an hour and then he wanders out alone. The wind was cold, the stars were bright as he turned his ragged collar to the night. The house was a beacon of light in a sea of darkness and from within came the happy sound of childrens voices. The hand was weak, the knock was strong. The old man stood back, his eyes pierced by the light. Yes! What do you want? came the voice from within. Could you by any chance spare a few bob, or, a bed for the night? Sorry! we haven't any money, we spent it all on funny noses to save a life and we haven't any room, sorry. And after the door was shut and he was gone, they said words like, Did you smell the drink on him? and he would only spend it on more, and eee I could fair smell im cumin 'alf way down the garden path. The old man turn, his face to the wind, a tear ran down his cheek. Closed doors and closed hearts and from behind his eyes God cried, he cried for man, and still the fool can not understand.