THE CITY WITHIN OUR CITY

There's a city, within our city,
That I'm learning well to know.
The fee go, shuffling down the lanes,
With feeble step and slow.

the apartments there, upon its streets,
Hold souls so close to God.
Will they still be here, tomorrow?
Do I read on holy sod?

Oh, it takes so little effort
To bring smiles upon each face:
Finding the value of old songs
I'm glad I have in place.

Their voices, very feeble now,
Can't be heard above the din.
I've often witnessed teardrops,
Or the quaking of a chin.

There are eyes too dim to read again,
And hands too weak to grasp.
There are ears that cannot understand
And minds trapped in the past.

But, love twinkles in their starry gaze,
When kindnesses are shown.
Hugs and kisses send out warmth,
Unique within this home.

It is said 'a nation's judged
By what it does with all its old',
Especially those not well endowed
With hoards of earthly gold.

I'd like to think our people cared so much.
It's written down for aye
And carried by the angels up
To glory in the sky.

©Joan Clifton Costner