the poor man's wealth

"The rich man's wealth is in the city….The poor man's wealth
is in a holy, holy place."―Peter Tosh (after Prov. 10:15)

the bite of poverty consumes the poor                    
                    who, in his lowliness, must still endure
                                        the hunger of the world to feed his flesh
                                                            to vultures. everyday, his pain comes fresh,
his barrenness to harvest, like a crop,
                    where scarcely do the dews of heaven drop.
                                        earth's famines are of mercy, not of grain;
                                                            life's showers not of bounty, but of pain.

the cattle on a thousand hills are blind,
                    whose stewardship has left the poor behind.
                                        the mud cakes of the child devoid of bread
                                                            shall seal the grave of cruelty instead,
when those who pass by on the other side
                    beggars shall watch on gallant horses ride.
                                        the poor man’s wealth is in a holy place;
                                                            the rich man, too, may yet be saved by grace.

© Copyright 2023 September 19
by Clyve A. Bowen♫