Good Day to You!

Jamin pushed

            his barefoot heels

            into his horse’s side;

Bright blue feather

            in his cap,

            all smiles did that boy ride

He met a jolly beggar

            who

            seemed a trifle down

So Jamin looked

            into his pack

            to find a penny round

And finding four

            he gave one to

            this beggar poor by fate

thinking, “I would rather

            give one now

            than hold on ‘til too late.”

Then Jamin went

            a mile or two

            and saw a starving widow

“Mother,” he said,

            “what can I do

            to ease your cares and woe?”

“I know not what,”

            the bride replied,

            “I have many mouths to feed,

but God knows

            my many woes

            and will meet my every need.”

“Good woman,” said the youth,

            amazed,

            “I have with me pennies three;

please take them

            for your children

            and do all with them you please.”

So off the peasant pushed

            once more,

            his horse beneath his seat,

and seeing a tumbled cart,

            broke down,

            another did he greet.

“Kind sir,” the good youth

            now proclaimed,

            “I see you sore in need.

Please tell me where

            to find a spare

            that you may do your deed.”

Jamin followed all

            his good advice

            and quickly fixed that wheel,

and the man,

            a jolly sort,

            said, “Son, I’ll make a deal.

“I see in you a man of strength

            forgiving,

            and giving too;

take now these four and twenty pence,

            and now,

            good day to you!”

(c) September 24, 2007

Glenn Hall