Reaching out

Na Ncube

I wondered what he thought
as he sat there on the dirt
hands reaching out
in that worldwide gesture
of beggars
a few coins rattled in his tin
not enough for a loaf of bread
he sat there, unmoving
quite like a statue
and his eyes looked glazed
nothing could be read from them
not pain
not hunger
not even resignation
and I wondered again
as everyone passed
without so much
as a glance
what precisely went through
his mind
as he sat there
hands outstretched
I dropped a coin into those hands
and still neither they
nor the eyes
showed any acknowledgement
only the lips moved
in a long practised
now automatic
“God bless you”
I wondered as I walked on
what it would take
to reach those eyes
what exactly is reaching out for
more coins?
maybe not.

LitNet: 19 July 2006

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