By Monica C. Voskamp
“Will you help me?”
Asked the old lady
On the corner street
Her voice eager with hope.
Her clothes were faded.
Her teeth were stained.
Her hair was unbrushed.
Her body was shivering.
“Will you help me?” asked the old lady
To the young man passing her by.
“I’m poor. I’m old. I’m tired,
And I need a place to sleep.”
The passerby paused as he
Glanced her over from head to toe.
He raised his eyes in judgement
And scoffed out loud in disgust,
“You are poor and old.
And sheesh, you smell bad.
Lady, you should have done
Much better for yourself.”
The old woman’s face
Crinkled into a sad smile
As she watched him disappear.
At least he had stopped to talk.
She shuffled down the road
And warm tears began to fall
She knew just what she needed
To give her only friend a call.
“Dear God, you know
I’m cold and aching.
And all these folk…
They just keep on walking.”
“I’m not saying I’m giving up,
But it sure would be nice
If someone would just stop
And help this struggling human out.”
The woman heard a sad sound
And turned to see a lost puppy.
She smiled and snuggled him close,
“Don’t you worry, I’ll help you. ”
And right then the old lady knew
The little puppy was heaven sent
She echoed again, once more for herself,
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”
© 2020 MONICA C. VOSKAMP
Always hope. Always believe. Always love. ❤
*Photo Credit: Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash
