The Poor Man

By Michelle Longo-Bloom




Far be it to know, to grasp and to learn,
just what he can do, what the poor man can earn.
Great honor and pride deep in the core,
in this man so ordinary, common place, nothing more.
He possesses no great riches, no jewels; no fame,
just an average, poor man; simple and plain.
The clothes on his back, torn and tattered, if you will,
the usual, common, poor man; run of the mill.
But the things that he holds deep in his heart;
the honest hard work everyday that he does,
the nickels and dimes he works for; the people he loves.
These are the things that mean a great deal,
these are the things that make the poor man feel real.
A sense of honor and pride to the poor man, you see,
is the gift that he treasures; so special, so simply.
The gift to appreciate what he has indeed,
a life filled with riches, for him there’s no need.
No top of the line, expensive clothes or cars,
or two or three other vacation homes.
Content with his family and friends so devoted,
perfectly happy with just what he owns.
A wonderfully sincere and true ability,
a wonderfully loyal and great quality:
the gift to live so simply and happily,
without riches and wealth; material free.
So now we know, we’ve grasped and we’ve learned,
just what the poor man so humbly earned.
He’s earned a life filled with wealth, whether rich or not,
with only nickels and dimes, true pride he’s got.
So, maybe the poor man isn’t poor at all,
he may have no money, but he’s the one standing tall;
and maybe the poor man is the richest of all.