Salvation Corner

Cherry

By Richard L. Provencher

Mon, 30 Jan 2012
  • 1059 reads
5 comments
 

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

Certificate U
Poem
POETRY - A Passage of Motion 2
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on
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
Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by Denzella on
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
 

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on
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
Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by gerardineanne on
You capture a huge issue in a moment, loved it. Thanks

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on
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
Richard L. Provencher