The Rich Beggar Poem by Adegbenro Adekunle

He was rich in the morning
He swam too far in wealth for any man to reach
He was too far to hear the Poor’s mourning
Too busy to save a life with the offer of a fish

No poor moved closer to his shadow
Like sparrows escaping arrows, they fled from him
Hearing his voice would only add to their sorrow
Even the voice he was freely given, was used to chastise them

He was richer than kings in the afternoon
He hated the needy, he rated the poor
‘Poor, poorer, poorest’ was the title of his best pop song
He would take a swig of his wine, wink at the poor like a man surrounded by stinking herd of swine

The night came when his light was gone
Like the lightening of thunders, his life was only lightened for a while
The glory of his gold could not be seen by men
He became poor, poorer than the poor
He became as calm as a dove
The goose and goslings that laid his golden eggs were rotting in the grave

His heart was as open as a broken nut
Yet, everyone shut their ears and doors against him
He wanted his shadow to be a shade for all men
Yet, even the ants saw him as a wild fire
People muttered wacky words against him
Words that hit him like pestles pounding empty mortars

He stretched forth his wretched hands to beg
Even the weak were eager to cut them
He wandered without destination, begging day and night
Everyone called him the rich beggar



Written on FEB,14 2008 by Adegbenro Adekunle Jacob
The Rich should show some love to the poor.