Bruised and battered and broken inside
Still she moves forward with another stride
Anxious and aching; her enemies lied.
How many heartbreaking moments she's tried?
How many times has her love been denied?
How many pleas to those heartless she's cried?
Her heart swells wide as eternity is wide.
Hurting and halting, having hunger stay,
He lives his life, not knowing sun's ray.
While living much time in the bright light of day
Without hearing so much as one kind stranger's "Hey..."
Never knowing joy of beauty, of children's play,
Wishing of this life, he'd be done today
The blind beggar's hope stays not, today.
They've walked and walked and walked some more.
The going's been rough for these children four.
Thinking no shelter waits in store,
Moving at all while their stomachs are sore
Is the most bitter, and the worst kind of chore.
All those who might help only ignore
These children, whom some small aide implore.
He's looking to numb his conscience, in pain
For all whom he's hurt in pursuit of gain.
Feeling the guilt and feeling the stain,
Feeling not coldness of the pouring rain
He sloshes through the flood in the lane.
He who steals life cannot life disdain
When he sees others approaching, in pain.
Children, still walking and hungry and cold,
Peer through the rain, wishing pain be un-told.
Feeling themselves worn, and tired, and old,
They sense 't won't be long until their legs fold.
Will their sad tale ever be told?
How will any know the trinkets they've sold
To feed empty stomachs, growling so bold?
A dark shadow moves, children don't know,
But whatever it is, towards it they go.
Rain from the clouds is changing to snow.
Sodden and numbed is each finger and toe.
Blood circulation has started to slow.
Coherent thought long since ceased to flow.
What is it toward which these poor children go?
The shadow divides. Now shadows two,
Beggar blind and woman broke, soaked through,
Approach children poor, hoping to grow hope anew,
Where hope, long past, in their hearts once grew.
Knowing not how, wanting this task to do,
Beggar and woman learn what once they knew.
Cold is easier for many together than few.
Words of comfort man and woman speak
To frozen children so mild and meek.
Tears of all freeze on every cheek
While more than words all souls present seek.
Depression and despair into the air leak.
How can such as these, whom of broke royalty reek
Find hope where none is had by these who seek?
He who steals life sees huddled group ahead.
Compassion from life-thief long past has fled.
Upon such softness, in hate, he leaves tread.
For such he's never, nor would he ever have bled.
Though oft his palms were colored red
Has a kind thought ever entered his head?
Has he ever a helpful word said?
Yet... and yet, seeing them, he takes a new role.
Understanding not this goal,
He feels, living within, a heart and a soul,
And hands over his goods. Broken hearts become whole.
Air near as chilled as that of the southern pole,
He turns, starts to retreat to where'er he'll go
But these grateful souls beg him not to go.
You, Reader, may listen and wonder.
A miracle like this, in snow, rain, and thunder-
Can it have happened in this world torn asunder?
Can a woman so broken lend strength to another?
Can a blind beggar, hopeless, share that kindness with another?
Can a man, heartless, trade dark heart for bright other?
Can you now share Hope's comfort given you by her?
Can you?
Should you?
Would you?
Will you?
beatingheart2
Thank you for this. I believe that broken people can lift others up through their struggles, even despite their struggles. If they can look past their pain and heartache, and serve others, their burdens will become light and they can bring hope to others through their service. I enjoyed this poem.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I like the thought of broken people lifting others who are also broken. I think that regardless of my state of being, I'm capable of helping. A miracle, really. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think that being aware of our own fleeting humanity is what grants us the wisdom and character to surrender ourselves to the needs of others. We realize that by helping others we are connecting to a higher purpose.... Even a mathmatical mind like my own soon realizes that no energy is ever lost... All the energy that I've dispersed has found its way back to me one way or another.... it's like I'm saving up karma checks for later! Since it's like patting yourself on the back anyway, why shouldn't all of humanity get involved? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI like this idea that what we give out comes back to us. It seems to me that energy and spirit are different ways of thinking about the same thing. I think of spirit as energy imbued with intelligence. I think that's a big reason for the great return on energy investment- it grows as we use it up. When all of humanity does get involved, we'll have an enormous amount of spirit energy ready to be utilized. Thanks!
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