Hitchhike Poem by D.N. Rebb

Left my home town just before six am
The right thumb was my only ride
Someone finally stopped, thank you ma'am
Heading to the city that has nothin' to hide
My heart and wallet were both empty
Only hope and inspiration led the way
The old lady was kind and handed me a twenty
But she was heading to the other side of the bay
So, I kept hitching and it started to rain
Finally a transport stopped, says he's going my way
He was an interesting chap, with one smart brain
Testing of what he had learned in all the yesterdays
He entertained me with his hearty singing
In perfect rhythm with the interval wipers
Smiling, I tried to keep the beat with simultaneous clapping
Just adored this remarkable man's artistic flair
When not melodic, he talked about inner peace
Said, no one can take away what is ultimately yours
It has no value for anyone to unkindly cease
Only let God muddle with your inner affairs
No one ever spoke of religion where it all made sense
This dear man must have had Jesus on his side
Then he spoke of his dead wife, which made him quite tense
In silence we drove on, the topic leaving him very teary-eyed
We reached downtown as the morning sun came up
He pulled over and told me something I'll never forget
If you're thirsty, don't be afraid to hold out your cup
Every storm will eventually stop being upset
Appointed time does heal all superficial wounds
And the lord will always be beside you when you're down
Know of the ones you need to make amends
When things get hectic, just don't frown
The sun will come up again tomorrow
There's always new auspicious beginnings
And with that, he said he had to go
And he left me on the side of the road grinning