Login
|
Join PoetrySoup
Home
Submit Poems
Login
Sign Up
Member Home
My Poems
My Quotes
My Profile & Settings
My Inboxes
My Outboxes
Soup Mail
Contest Results/Status
Contests
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Quotes
Short Stories
Articles
Forum
Blogs
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Resources
Syllable Counter
Anthology
Grammar Check
Greeting Card Maker
Classifieds
Member Area
Member Home
My Profile and Settings
My Poems
My Quotes
My Short Stories
My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Random
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 3.147.65.65
Your Email Address:
Required
Email Address Not Valid.
To Email Address:
Email Address Not Valid.
Required
Subject
Required
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
Every day, ‘round 8 am, I climb up from the subway and pass a guy - a blind guy - who is there to beg for change. But one day, as I paused to watch him wave his cup around, I wound up spotting something I perceived as rather strange. A brisk November breeze unveiled, beneath the well worn blanket draped around his back and snugly tucked beneath his legs, What I clearly saw to be a brand new pair of shoes…not what I’d expect to see on one who --- sits and begs! Like I had so often, I again dug out a quarter to drop into what I could see was close to halfway full, Then hustled off - to be on time - but now a bit suspicious…reminded of the kinds of tricks I’d heard some beggars pull. Getting off at five that day, I chose to use the bus, and as we passed the subway stair...I’d say around 5:15... The begging guy had not yet left, and as the bus sat waiting, I watched -- in disbelief, until the traffic light turned green. Clearly unconcerned about if - passersby would notice - he drew the blanket tight across his lap and dumped the can, Then separated off the bills and spread the coins to sort them, and I would softly mumble, “What a devious little man!” Seeing him compute his earnings made me understand the dark black glasses weren’t required…the little fraud could see, And I began to wonder how a man could stoop this low, and what the easiest way to foil his evil ruse might be. Stunned by what I felt he’d done, “Tomorrow,” I proclaimed, “I’ll confront him…tell him what I saw…and call his bluff!” Intending to expose him seemed the proper thing to do, ‘cause simply - not affording him my help - was not enough. Getting up a wee bit early, aimed at making time for quizzing him concerning what I deemed to be near theft, And all the while I showered and shaved, tossing around the options I could use to flush him out, and - just before I left - Bound to let the countless souls who fell for - what he seemed - know that he’d deceived us, one and all, for all this time, I could feel the vengeful anger boiling up inside, and anxiousness to fin’ly make him answer for his crime. As I reached the stairway top, keeping to my purpose, I approached aggressively, enough that some nearby Quickly read the look I wore, and - sensing my disgust - paused to learn what strategy I’d found the nerve to try. “Good morning, sir,” I started out….“I always give a quarter, but all I’ve got this morning, I’m afraid’s, a dollar bill. But…if you’ll give me seven dimes - if I give you my dollar -- which, of course, will actually leave you thirty cents --- I will.” “Not a problem,” he proclaimed, “I’ve got lots of change,” then reached behind his back and lifted out a tiny box. “Things have been much better since the leaves have turned,” he said...“I got some brand new shoes last week, an’ I’m savin’ up for socks.” Instantly I zeroed in on what his - ‘leaves have turned’ - comment clearly verified...this con man wasn’t blind! “So…how’d ya’ know the leaves have turned,” I tried exposing him…“and…which of all your many coins are dimes…if you don’t mind?” “Pickin’ out the dimes ain’t hard - for those who’ve had to learn to - but when it comes to bills,” he quipped, “there ain’t no way to tell. An’ figurin' out the leaves ‘ve turned’s a piece o’ cake, my friend…‘cause I can hear the cracklin’ leaves...and actually taste the smell!” Still a little skeptical, I bent to try a tactic sure to make him show his hand - if what I thought was true. I whisked my hand before his eyes - expecting him to flinch and rear away by instinct, as most anyone would do. The sudden breeze I’d forced across his face betrayed my purpose - confirming my intent to prove his begging was a ruse - But - not so much as even twitching - with a sullen look - he made me know I’d hurt him with the ploy I’d chose to use. “Now I understand the reason why you asked your questions, about the turning leaves and how I know which coins are dimes. Of course -- you’re not the first to wonder -- ‘Is he blind or not’ -- and’s made a move to learn the truth…it’s happened many times, “An' as far as -- when a person that could easily hold a job - that has no true affliction - tries to fake it -- I’m with you… But, being partially paralyzed - and - as you now know - blind…I’ve yet to find a thing - for earning money - I can do. “My wheelchair,” he continued - “sittin’ there beside the news stand - gets me where I need to go, but needs a little work.” He pointed toward his chair, and - as my eyes began to water - I became aware that he was talking to --- a jerk! “Once a day the vendor on the corner sends a sandwich…and sometimes people give me things like donuts,” he explained. “Every penny counts, ya’ know, but when I bought new shoes, pretty close to everything I’d stashed away was drained. “The socks ‘ll prob’ly have to wait ‘til later on this fall ‘cause by the time I pay my rent, what’s left don’t go too far, And now that Winter’s closin’ in, there’ll be far fewer days that ain’t too cold for doin’ what I do than them that are. “But I can guarantee you, sir, as grateful as I am for all the contributions folks like you have given me, I’d give every penny back to only...stand and walk…and wake tomorrow morning to discover…I could see!”
CAPTCHA Preview
Type the characters you see in the picture
Required