Some days I feel like Lazarus
Begging others for crumbs
Standing in a place so hazardous
Hoping someone comes
I sit on the outside of the “in crowd”
Wanting desperately to become
Part of them but their message is loud
“you’re not welcome here,” say some
I sit and wait, and beg, and plead
–All to no avail
I suffer like Job in agony and bleed
My efforts, constantly fail
I hunger, thirst, live in discomfort
Watch, hopeless, as others enjoy
Life’s pleasures, of all sorts
While I become like a worn-out toy
Broken, dirty, useless to society
A liability, a burden, an object of shame
No reason left to exercise propriety
Let’s just see who else, what else to blame
But today, I feel like the Rich Man
As I ride by on my way to work
Talking to beggars isn’t part of my plan
Only a brisk wave; eye-contact I shirk
Passing the beggars, day by day
Familiar faces they become
But how many times have I stopped to say
“Hello!” Or to find out where they’re from?
Day after day they sit and wait
Hoping someone will show mercy
And yet I walk on by in haste
Wondering if secretly they’re cursing
Hungry they seem and stretch out their hand
Some blind, some injured, some perfectly healthy
There are so many “poor” in this sorry land
Yet others… who are so very wealthy
Fancy cars and air-conditioned houses
Separate us from “the masses”
Isolating busy schedule espouses
Separation… as each day passes
Do I not have time for even a single
“How is it going?” “How’s the family?” And smile?
No, the voices in my ear just tingle
“they’ll become dependent”, “just wait a while”
And so I wait, day after day
Riding on by with barely a wave
An opportunity lost each time to say
Life doesn’t have to be this way
Take courage today! Be my friend,
Get up, and most importantly, believe!
There is hope, my hand to you I’ll lend
To pull you up, from there retrieve!
Life has opportunities we often don’t see
Whether the rich or the poor man you’d be
Chances to get up, current habits to flee
To make a difference, to set others free
By His power only, in His strength we trust
To do what each day we must without fear
So get up, let’s go! All efforts thrust
To make poverty as we know it disappear!
Citizens, friends, and fellow brothers
Something must be done!
Let’s think today of others
Perhaps you are the one
Who can change the ways of old
Whether you are the poor or rich, I say
On transformation you must be sold
Be the one who changes the world, today!
© Lukas Westevy
2008