Common Man

The traveler reeked of weariness, His companion was Fatigue Wear upon his clothes suggest He'd come a million league. Gaunt were eyes deep set and brown Above his cheekbones high His being was pure somnolence And I heard his silent cry. Hard roads had been his travel The pains chiseled on his face In lines of furrows on his brow Permanently enlaced Around I saw no motion there, then ... His head began to rise Finally he looked at me ... Suffering in his eyes. So quietly I attended And with a heavy heart I wanted so to speak to him ... But knew not how to start Within his labored breathing He then began to speak His words, when finally spoken Were truthful and unique His lips worked to form the words - Then said; "My name is: Common Man, I'm a father; I've worked hard; ' always done the best I can. "The road's become uphill and steep with Burdens I can't propel I've tried to move on forward - But, I stumbled here - and fell. "There are others on me Who so do depend I must move on forward, This mustn't be my end. "Now I must reach out to you 'Cause before I've never failed I'm turning now to you 'Fore on hardships I'm impaled". A calloused hand then extended Toward my outstretched hand And I want to heed the call For this Common Man. But, Greed and Avarice have won And assistance can't be lent - Wall Street, you see, owns me now: I'm Your Government.