''Oh, You Are Rich''

While it was raining heavily outside, Two children in shabby, tattered dress Stormed into our glass roofed patio And at the door, for mercy did pause They said they were out to buy empty cans To make a living and support their family The only work they could do at their age And it was not their intent to dilly dally I was in no mood to entertain them As my hands with pending works were tight A week’s laundry and some shopping to do But was rather indisposed to send them outright As I looked onto their starved faces I felt a hard tug deep from within After a moment’s thought, when I invited them in In innocent mirth, their eyes did spin When I brewed for them two cups of coffee And gave some homemade snacks to munch Their little faces bloomed in joy As if savoring a favorite fruit punch. All the while their curious eyes went Flashing from nook to nook and every corner On my well stacked shelves of china pottery And the costly gadgets and the gas burner When they were about to leave They simply said- “Oh! You are rich!” Of course a new revelation, it was to me Something I had never thought over much Yes, with a roof overhead With enough means to feed my kids And with a steady income every month How rich I am compared to those hapless lads Now, though many months have slipped by I reiterate to myself what those children said ‘Oh! You are rich’ lest I shall ever forget again, How rich I am and this thought keeps me ahead! From that day onwards, never have I failed To offer profuse words of thanks and prayer To Him who has blessed me thus With riches galore and a bounty to share! Thanksgiving Blessings Poetry Contest Sponsor: Regina McIntosh