A Little Prophet

I was thinking about the old/young relationship; how when we're young we think we've invented the world and old people are just wrinkled and useless. Then eventually, we get old

In the afternoons he gave out hope.

He would hand it out with a smile

like the Faithful handing out pamphlets.

Young people would laugh at his clothes

torn here, stained there,

but the silent ones were drawn by his light.

He knew them by name, calling and nodding

as their afternoon trudge home

simmered in the heat, or shivered in the cold.

He wasn't much to look at

old, gnarled, lines carved in his face.

but he knew the lost ones by name.

"Jimmy, how's your mother?"

"Jessie, that's a great dress."

"Beth, you pass that history test?"

John they called him, the ones who cared.

Pete, who didn't, one day pushed him;

John fell as if part of his rags.

"Old man, you stink and you should die."

John just laughed from his pile

"that's okay son, someday you'll be old too."

One afternoon, when the leaves had fallen

and the earth was prepared for the cold,

John wasn't there, shouting out names.

Some wondered, some didn't notice or care.

A small man, dressed in rags who smiled.

A small few were changed, and would remember.

Pete, with other things to attend, soon forgot

Til the day, long after booze discovered him,

he found himself lying in a pile of his own rags.

From his small piece of ground

he wept tears salty with regret.

He stood unsteadily, and wandered towards school.

"Hey Seth, how was practice last night?"

He told them to call him John, as he'd cast

off his former name in an empty bottle.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Many way to look at life. I was always kind to the beggars in Monterey. We drank coffee and talked poetry. One day the coffee girl had two flat tires. I gave what I could. My friend who begged for a living. Gave the young girl $200. He smile and said "A beggar life does bring in money." I learn to respect the man. People fall and rise. Good to be kind to each other. I like the people in your story. Took me back to when conversations were long and friends were many. Thank you for the excellent poem.
Coyote

[Mark]

You are welcome Coyote and thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

[Sirius King]

life has a way of beating out the arrogance of our childhood, sometimes we become the very thing we laughed at

great write!

[Mark]

Thank you Sermus, glad you stopped by!

[Renée]

thank you for sharing this piece with me... Excellent story ! we do never know who walks with us...
there for the grace of God, go I ....

[Mark]

I'm glad you like it. Thanks for reading :)

[Renée]

a pleasure ! ( :
now for my next trick..25 lol

[Mark]

hahaha.. yeah I hate that new rule.

[KAOlmsted]

Powerful stuff. I felt a little knot in my throat, a little tug at my tear ducts...you b*****d *laugh* Seriously, though, this is a very emotional piece and it made me think, so good on ya there. Well done, sir.

-kimmer

[Mark]

Always love to tug on the heart strings! :) Thanks K

[Mary]

prophets come in all shapes and sizes, the listeners hear and the sighted see. This is beautifully written. My brother, though not a street person, was eulogized at his funeral by his pastor as being a prophet. Like the person in your poem, George was different, ridiculed, ignored, but a few listened. No preaching came from his mouth, only genuine caring and kindness. Thank you for this well written poem.

[Mark]

I knew a priest like that. He was always smiling, never an unkind word and seemed to have this soft gentle glow about him. His sermons were damn boring, but he was a wonderful man. I've always considered it a privilege to have known him and you must feel doubly blessed to have known someone like that not only as a prophet but as kin!

Thank you for the review. :)

[Antonio Valentino]

thats about as sensational as they come my friend.. love your heart and spirit.. looking forward to reading more of your insights..

bless you, this was made from something special

:)

[Mark]

Thank you Antonio. I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[Antonio Valentino]

you're very welcome, it was my pleasure.. :)

[lee von cleef]

I like the final picture casting off his former name in an empty bottle.So said ,we all have a nitch in this world.

[Mark]

yes we do and it's good when we find it! Thanks for the review. :)

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

First off we never know where we may find our feet walking........never judge. Second you are right wisdom is to be found from the older generation but so often even if they are not in rags or addicted to drugs or alcohol the younger generation pushes them aside and laughs as if they are idiots. They are chock full of wisdom and have lived much longer.......why can't they see this. Well done Poet. XX

[Mark]

Thanks hon :)

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

At least it seems he learned, albeit late, how the world looked through the old man's eyes. Some things take years to come back around, but most likely Pete acted the way he did because he had some major hurts of his own. This was different for you, Mark, and you did it very well. Paints a vivid picture with a meaningful story to tell.

[Mark]

yes, I wanted to portray how humans progress from young to old and how the young think they know it all. We don't, as a race, learn much from other people, we have to experience. Glad you liked it. :)