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Salvation Corner

Posted by Richard L. Prov... on January 30, 2012 - 14:29
from the ABC set POETRY - A Passage of Motion 2

Here comes someone
looking prosperous
in a three-piece suit
probably with a billfold full
of large paper numbers

heading in my direction.
I give the Sally Ann
bell another dingle
anticipating a
good-sized donation

such a need and a trail
of stories requiring clothes
and food in great supply.

Comes up and smiles
pauses with hickory cane
tucked under arm
reaches into his pocket and

jingles a handful.
Takes time to discern
and cheerfully drops in
his inheritance
as I turn away and hear

Clink.

© Richard L. Provencher

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Comments

Stan | January 30, 2012 - 19:14

Excellent. I like those little details - 'pauses with hickory cane tucked under arm'... 'Takes time to discern and cheerfully drops in his inheritance...'

And that clinching final word!

Richard L. Prov... | January 30, 2012 - 22:00

Thank you so much, Stan. It was fun watching people who donate, looks in their eyes, the weighty shift of shoulders and the halting advance to the Kettle pot with some kind of donation. But it was more fun in the writing. Cheers. And thank you, ABCTales team for the cherries. Yummy. Richard LP

Denzella | January 31, 2012 - 22:49

Hello Richard, L. Prov,

I can identify with your poem having stood outside a supermarket with collecting tin, which, by the way one is not allowed to rattle as apparently people can find it intimidating.

And it is always the poorest looking people that don't walk past.

I remember a homeless person in Manchester who used to shout "Only need another couple of bob before I'm off to Florida!

And that last word "clink" carries such finality.

Really enjoyed reading this.

Moya

Richard L. Prov... | February 1, 2012 - 01:47

Thank you so much, Moya. In one of our stores, the Sally Ann person plays a violin to attract folks to the Kettle. In another, where I got the idea for the poem, the person looks the other way when they ding the dong, so no one approaching knows it is for them.
Cheers, Richard LP

gerardineanne | February 1, 2012 - 08:11

You capture a huge issue in a moment,
loved it.
Thanks

Richard L. Prov... | February 1, 2012 - 14:45

Thank you so much, gerardineanne, for your kind comment. I appreciate any donation of any size to any organization is received with thanks. Yet I do have fun in discerning the way some swoop in to share their largesse with an offering. Cheers. Richard LP