Sunday, January 04, 2015

Anonymously







He didn't need to sit cross-legged on a street corner every day. He didn't need to strum a shabby old guitar and sing. Nor did he need the bits of loose change that were dropped into his upturned cap by passing strangers. It was his choice to sleep in a filthy rat infested night shelter alongside those that had no choice. In the depth of the night whilst the others slept, he would creep around and leave the few coins he had collected beside them. When they woke to find them, they had no idea from where they had come. But find them they did, every morning, often accompanied by some bread or fruit.

After his parents were cruelly taken away by a tragic accident he had inherited untold wealth. He had no other family, and he was never one to form friendships. He’d led a charmed existence. He was to win at every turn of life’s corners and he felt a deep guilt, but money can’t buy happiness.  A review of his life thus far disquieted him. So when the revolution within him surfaced, he resolved to dedicate his life to those to whom life had been cruel; those upon whom the sun did not shine. He became a new person, an unseen guardian angel; his generosity knew no bounds. Bit by bit everything he owned was handed out to charities that supported the homeless. Anonymously.

One day he disappeared. No one missed him. After all he was just another down and out.



3 comments:

  1. Maybe the people who found his coins and food missed him though they did not know his name or see his face...I am sure in some way he made a difference...a poignant fable...I suppose when we are poor inside no one can really feed us...unless we learn to do so ourselves...hmm...thank you for making me think...clunk!

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  2. I am sure there are many out there that give anonymously asking not for recognition which is vain thing to do. However not so many would be game enough to share their sleeping arrangements! Must confess I need a good mattress.

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  3. I think, if we are honest, we have all been recipients of his incredible actions when we needed them most. I really like the image of all that gratitude floating around on the air and settling where it will to make a difference. I’m sorry for being so late to return your visit to my site. It’s been a rough few days. And Keith, I sincerely hope you don't withdraw from the Sunday wordle. Writing is writing and I know that some of my own pieces are more prose and just formed to look like poetry. Please continue, we need the variety and the wisdom that shines throughout this piece.

    Elizabeth

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