May 8, 2016 Free Verse, Original Poetry

Beggars
©May 8th, 2016
By Vijaya Sundaram

The temple bells ring
And the air is filled with light.
The beggar sits outside
The gates, metal bowl clinking
With coins from grudging charity.
He sings of long ago with aching voice.
Milky-blind eyes see darkness,
Broken arms end in stumps.
The beggar sings of God and mercy
His sun-baked voice cracks
Like an old porcelain cup
Filled with sorrow, refilling
With salt tears, endless like a sea.
The cracks spread, the cup breaks.
The beggar lies there,
Surrounded by light.
People move briskly like water
Drawing in their clothing
To avoid touching him, as they
Walk to the temple, eyes
Fixed on their own Eternity
Seeking enlightenment.

Tags: #Beggars, #Inhumanity, #OriginalPoetrybyVijayaSundaram