FLOWER VENDOR
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I know him for past thirty years;
a door to door flower vendor;
short, lean, dark with gullible stares
and a basket around his shoulders.
'How much do you earn? ' once I asked
way back in eighties, if Im right.
'Enough to fill half belly! ' he laughed
'Yet I am happy and content.'
Few days ago, I lost my way
in the gossamer of our town lanes
when I found him in some grimy alley.
Asked, ' Are you selling here your jasmines? '
'I live here Sir.' with a smile he said
'In fact I can live only here
with the profit my flowers yield...
hand to mouth, same life from years.'
'You look worried sir! ' he added
'I endured this life for years.
I cant even shed tears.' he chuckled
'Severe water problem here! '
Well! I started looking askance
Is this the place for a humble man
who pours into our lives fragrance
a dirty lane near to a sewer line? ! !
(NOTE: On an average a door to door flower vendor earns Rs.30/= to Rs.50/= per day as per my survey)
Some people choose to give from the heart to make others happy. This man is a kind soul, and life has given him a wisdom beyond earthly riches. This is a beautiful, touching story, Sathya, and a reminder of what life is truly about. Thank you for sharing! Linda : -)
Thank you for sharing this - made me feel humble. It shows we don't need all the rich trappings of life to be happy. You were obviously affected by this enough to pen it and now you have passed that on to us as readers. Well done 10++++
surely a wonderful write..........the last para touched me most...... liked it........
A very sad poem and thanks for enlighting me about your culture. We have poor in all countries, but your poem makes it more personal. Thanks for sharing. Please read my 'O'er Yon Mountain'. Your friend Lynn
I can’t even shed tears” he chuckled “Severe water problem here” shows the pun and fun of words....humble living with full joy.... the plight is in viewers sight and mind indeed.... well written.........rgrds/salu
this perfume attracts the mind in many ways +10 from me
Thanks for bringing to our consciousness the plight of many workers who despite earning little still provide us necessary and many times delightful services.
You had express some forms in realities of poor and little potatoes. very nice poem in very good depth
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
beautiful heartbreaking and sooo very true....the simple naked truth about life where hope is none....