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The tramp
| Open Poetry #46 |
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The tramp |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria 
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THE TRAMP He was shabby and thin and down at the heel, Ill clothed for the weather was damp, As he made his way down that affluent street, It was plain to see he was only a tramp. He paused once or twice to check on the gates, For the number was etched deep in his mind, Then when at last he came to a stop, He wondered just what he would find. With his gaze on a house, more lavish than most, You could tell he was not among friends, Then a well dressed lady stepped out from within And drove away in a gleaming new Benz. He waited a while, then with hesitant step Made his way to the mansion’s front door, With thoughts from the past,& heart beating fast, He just wondered what might be in store. He murmured a prayer, as he stood waiting there, Wondering who might come to the bell, Then a lovely young lady opened the door, She was surprised , it was easy to tell. She gave him a smile of ultimate warmth, It was just as if she had lighted a lamp, The clouds of the day, seemed to roll right away, And it gladdened the old heart of the tramp. He said to her Miss, “ I’m weary and cold, It’s near a week since I’ve had a square meal,” The warmth of her smile he put on memory’s file, As he took in all her youthful appeal. She bade him come in, his hunger to ease, Where a great meal she gave him to eat And seeing it was her , who’d prepared it for him, For to him it was the ultimate treat. For this was his daughter, he knew it for sure, The birth mark was there on her cheek, When he had finished he rose to his feet And with emotion he heard himself speak. Thank you young lady for taking me in, I sincerely thank you for being so kind, For not every one is kind to a tramp And forever it will live in my mind. Now how could he tell her he was her dad When he deserted her as a baby in arms, Through that one indiscretion so long ago now, When he succumbed to another girl’s charms. That brought him divorce and loss of respect And a start down the road of decline, Oh how he wished he could turn back the clock, Yes, it would certainly be different next time. He thanked her again , and bid her farewell, With a smile on his old weathered face, There & then he could see, what the answer must be, She must never know her dad in disgrace. He walked down the path,& at the gate he looked back, He knew that life’s dye had been cast, She smiled once again and gave him a wave, Now the future seemed brighter at last. Lindsay |
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| © Copyright 2010 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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easy1 Senior Member
since 2010-05-22
Posts 1209Southeastern USA |
Good writing here, imho, and a good decision by the Tramp, too! Very much enjoyed reading this. (For some reason it did remind me a little of Woody Guthrie at his lost uncle's(?) Depression-era door in affluent Sonoma, California, as related in his (somewhat exaggerated) autobiography. Woody also turned and left, forever, without identifying himself.) |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
You are in top story telling form with this tale. Perhaps I too would have made the same decision as the tramp. |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Dear Lindsay, what a story and how well written!! I enjoyed your poignant work deeply. A hard final decision no doubt! Maybe ... I like to think ... there will be a second chance to tell the truth ... Love, Margherita |
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Eldest Member
since 2010-06-15
Posts 177Alabama |
So what happened next? Did the tramp turn his life around with his daughter as inspiration? I want to hear the rest of the story. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Lindsay, this is perhaps one of your more profound melodies of life after desertion. It is not cute nor comical [although I have to admit at first I was waiting for the punch line which you are so very good at delivering] so I was surprised with the ending, but not so surprised at the heart of the poet who wrote it. Thank you! P.S. I wrote something of this nature several years ago...but it is a true to life rendering and I hope you don't mind that I tag this in to yours, only for you. /main/forumdisplay.cgi?action=displayarchive&number=47&topic=001733 [This message has been edited by Sunshine (06-23-2010 10:03 PM).] |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Thanks Easy for your comment,I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Earl a big thank you to you to and making the same decision as the tramp would be the right one to make. Margherita it is so good to see your name in the comments. I hear that you have been unwell so I hope you are much better now. Yes he may get a second chance, who knows. Thanks Eldest, no I'm sorry to say that how it finished up is unknown to me but I'm delighted with your interest Dear Karilea you have a very kind and interesting way of making your comment And I love you for it. I'm sorry there was no punch line in this one but half my poems are serious and the rest are written to give the readers a good laugh, which I think is so important in these days of stress and srain. Thank you my dear. Lindsay |
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Lamar Cole Member
since 2009-05-01
Posts 274 |
Beautiful poem. Very heart touching. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
This one touches the heart, Lindsay. Wonderful story-telling  |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
To my good friends Lamar and Mike, it's very gratifying To see your generous comments and I thank you for them. Have a great day guys and take care. Lindsay |
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