~*The Beggar!*~

As he walked down the street
in the bitter cold,
his long hair was gray
and his face looked so old,
***
He was dressed in rags,
there were holes in his shoes
and out of his pocket
stuck a bottle of booze.
***
With a cane in one hand
and a bag in the other,
he stopped and and said:
"Would you help out a brother?"
***
As I looked at his face,
with eyes so kind,
I reached in my pocket
to see what I'd find.
***
As I pulled out some change
he started to smile.
After giving him money,
he stood there a while.
***
He nodded and thanked me
and waved me good-bye,
I had such a feeling,
and I thought I'd cry.
***
In sadness I left
and I thought of his life:
he had nothing to hope for
in his troubles and strife!
***
How did he become...?
And what made him this way?
Have mercy, dear god,
for his sake, I pray!


Written By my Daughter
Sabine Reinsch, Age 13
1990 Toronto Canada