They Ring My Bell

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In my neighborhood in Chicago, holy men, beggars from New York and from Jerusalem, come to our doors for money on a daily basis throughout the year, rain or shine...

They ring my bell
  Three, four times every day
They really don't look well
  And I sure want to say

"Go away, you poor souls
  And don't you blame me!
You're not blind.  Can't you see
  That I live modestly!"

But I reach in my pocket
  Pull out a dollar or so
And beg them do a mitzvah      Here, 'mitzvah' means a kindness, a good deed
  Because I know ... 
 
That the Torah is Light             The 'Torah' connotes all Jewish Holy Writings
  And a Mitzvah's a Candle
Then I break down and cry
  As I truly can't handle

The quiet voice that
  Whispers to me now and again:
"They could have done much more good
  Had you given each of them a ten..."

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Sherry Asbury

Date: 11/25/2018 11:53:00 PM

Try to give to everyone - but never have anything left...very nice poem!

Gershon Wolf
Date: 11/26/2018 8:44:00 AM

Do I ever know that feeling. Can't squeeze blood from a turnip, as they say. Best wishes, Gershon

Mike Gentile

Date: 11/24/2018 8:50:00 AM

I love the light turn to irreverence at the end Gershon!! Wasn't expecting that!! Well done

Gershon Wolf
Date: 11/24/2018 10:39:00 PM

Interesting take you had on this one, my friend. Thanks a million for the comment! Best wishes, Gershon

Ilene Bauer

Date: 11/23/2018 5:11:00 PM

you've described this very well and i admire your desire to give more, gershon. i'm glad they're not in my neighborhood...

Gershon Wolf
Date: 11/24/2018 10:38:00 PM

Hey, come on down to Chicago. Then you can join all the other New Yorkers who have moved here, and still get your fill of Williamsburg Satmar Chasidim, who make the rounds of our neighborhood here, schnorring 24/6. LOL. ! ~ Gershon

Chris Green

Date: 11/23/2018 3:38:00 PM

I had one as well, but no money to pay, he smiled as he left and then said "Oy Vey" :) Just kidding. You give with your heart my friend. Nicely done.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 11/24/2018 10:36:00 PM

Enjoyed your poetic comment, Chris... It's oy, vey for me every day. :) gw

Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/23/2018 3:27:00 PM

So sad that even in the civilised world people are starving, homeless and don't know where their next meal is coming from, but we do what we can. Pity the billionaires can't help.out a bit more, I'm sure they could spare even a small portion of their wealth. Tom.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 11/23/2018 3:34:00 PM

Really. Think of all the wonderful ways their money could be utilized. Today I especially think of those NBA all-stars who make tens of millions every year, and only a single-digit number of them donate anything much to charity... Oh, well, It was every aye, I suppose.