Will Work For Food Poem by Tonya Body Clark

from a distance i can see the sign “WILL WORK FOR FOOD”
can a few coins actually help this dude?
i wanted to help, but was a bit subdued
i couldn’t simply drive past – i couldn’t be rude
he had a sign, after all – that he’d work – just for food

i do not know his story – he’s just some strange man
however, I do know that everyone deserves a helping hand
life’s tragedies are certainly never planned
i don’t want to judge – i want to take a stand
instead of looking the other way, i want to offer my hand

but for the grace of God, go I
i think of circumstances that would force me to beg –
and i want to cry

to feed my son i’d do whatever i had to do
i’d beg, borrow or steal- wouldn’t you?
i’d even stand on a corner, holding a sign that read
“WILL WORK FOR FOOD”

people’s faces are stone cold –
“he’ll learn his lesson – i should withhold! ”
now i’m closer, wondering if i should ’spare a dime’
if i give, will it be to help change his life
- or to help change mine?