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WindWalker12
Member

since 2009-10-17

Posts 57

0 posted 2010-02-11 07:18 PM

Sidewalks of Life

A man walks the city streets in ragged clothes,
wearing an old face moved along by tired feet:
my first reaction? Judge him a worthless bum:
it is, after all, what society saw fit to impart
in the years when mind could believe anything.

The years have left their mark in he and I;
no longer does society possess our souls:
too many haughty frowns and welfare cheques
can do that to some not on the board;
to the pawns who died saving their king.

Our path crosses: I feel his love of life
and as quietly does compassion enter my heart
for I realize he too would love to feed a hungry world;
penniless as I, ragged clothes and worn out body
notwithstanding.

I do not turn away when he stops by me:
even though the sound of his foreign tongue
seems incoherent and even harsh:
I listen and try to understand the words
but all I can do is feel his passion: it is enough
to fire the stories pouring from his heart.

Great friends we can become
allowing we are not that different after all,
having this one thing in common:
a passion to share our love through stories
garnered from cold and wet sidewalks of life.

Who knows but that some are already predisposed
to listen? To consider it worth their time
to read words kept from the rains
carefully wrapped in old plastic shopping bags?

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

1 posted 2010-02-12 10:39 PM

I think many life journeys have brought you to this place, WW.
Ida

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant

since 2006-11-07

Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !

2 posted 2010-02-15 06:35 PM

a VERY fine 'social impact/conscience' write!

I am especially fond of:

"Our path crosses: I feel his love of life
  and as quietly does compassion enter my heart
  for I realize he too would love to feed a hungry world;
  penniless as I, ragged clothes and worn out body
  notwithstanding."

AND:

"Great friends we can become
  allowing we are not that different after all,
  having this one thing in common:
  a passion to share our love through stories
  garnered from cold and wet sidewalks of life."

serious and long sustained applause for this 'penning' !!

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