Where is the beggar that frequents this place?
I've searched high and low but can't see his face.
I have here some cash to give to that man
So I really must find him if I can.
Yesterday he asked, could I spare a dime?
I shrugged and moved on; said I had no time.
I've thought long and hard, and I have been cruel,
And so today I will become God's tool.
Ten dollars I have, to help that poor guy
And that's why, you see, I really must try
To find him right now. Can you tell me how?
So sorry, my friend, but you are too late.
Such are the twistings and turnings of fate:
Poor Joe starved to death at twenty past eight.
I read somewhere The poor will always be with us. As I read this poem, I thought of the poor and homeless I've seen in the NYC subway system when I was young begging for money. I gave some a little change I had, mom yelled at me. Don't give them money, if you want to give them something buy them food. She told me about a person who she frequently saw begging outside a pizza shop in Trenton, NJ, she would sometimes go into the shop and buy him 2 slices of pizza. This poem also reminded me of the street musicians I saw in Ireland in the evening, playing music in front of closed shops, obviously asking for donations. I did give a few Euro to a couple of the musicians who's music I liked (which is rare since I don't usually like music) . There are so many people who need help, how can they all be helped? A random act of kindness every day may help? A nice poem even if it's not a true story, It is thought provoking.
The poem conveys the message that deeds that are done with good intention and mission but not realized are a great virtue. Loved reading.g the poem
This one is not based on a true experience but is totally fabricated.
true or false………… this story? I’d bet it is fabricated but has some truth in it. the ‘beggar’ may be better off now, but, that aside, I had a similar experience (somewhat similar) in Thailand. my first night, in Bangkok, I was walking with friends and saw people begging, but I had not obtained Thai currency/coins yet. gee, I may have just realized that Bangkok beggars would gladly have taken U.S. money! anyway, I saw some who I would have given money to, though my friend (who lived in Thailand) told me some stories later of people who begged as an employee for a ‘begging business’ of sorts, i.e. the people may not have had a lot of money but they made themselves appear more needy than they may have been, and then they shared their collections with their ‘boss’. well, it is still a ‘job’ and I would rather give a little and not feel I may have not helped someone who ‘really needed it’. [[ here in Caliornia, I’ve run into a lot of beggars, some of whom I suspect are also ‘professional beggars’, complete with babies or young children in tow. I’ve given small amounts of money as well as small amounts of food, and once a roll of toilet paper. ]] so, I eventually changed some u.s. for thai money, but I never encountered another person begging; we moved around the country, out of the big city for several days. I like the rhyming, especially the inter-line rhyme: “To find him right now. Can you tell me how? ” you were lucky Joe died at something past eight; it helped you to rhyme! keep up the good work! this now goes to my/our August showcase for PH poets on my PH site. thanks. bri :)
Very nice, leaving a moral behind - Whatever may be a noble thought, has to be conducted immediate, who knows - you may never get this chance later
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
very nice piece of work.It teaches us a lesson that if u see needy, old and infirm people help them right at the moment because you never know when the night falls and we remain helpless and remorsed.