The Rich Man

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A thread weaved through another

Can make a man a suit. 

His father said someone wrote that,

As he tied his worn out boot.

*

But why should he sew for others

What his hands clothe on his soul?

His father had only said that

To feel a bit good and whole.

*

It is the worst ever feeling

To be in a state of need.

He promised himself he’d never

Lose track of his knack to lead.

*

His father worked for others

And did not ask for more.

He gave all that he earned

Down to his very core.

*

“It’s why his heart gave out”,

Thought this unhappy man.

“It’s why it just stopped pumping,

With no financial plan”.

*

He sipped his tea and wondered,

How happy can one be?

Do happy people sit and brood

On things their eyes can’t see?

*

And then he saw a tricycle

Pass by his big large house.

It carried a beat up boy

Who scampered like a mouse.

*

As the boy wheeled closer and closer,

The man could not help but see,

A necklace with a diamond pendant

Slinging right down to his knee.

*

It glimmered under the streetlight

And against the moonlit ground.

It had a shape of a circle

And small trigons all around.

*

“Come, come closer, Boy”,

The unhappy man called out.

The boy halted his tricycle

And looked about him with doubt.

*

But then his wheels jerked on

To the direction of this man,

Whom he knew was purely curious

About where his journey began.

*

As the boy wheeled closer and closer,

The man could not help but see,

“Goodness gracious, Subhan Allah!

This boy is no one but me!”

*

Like him, he looked confused

And wiggled his way through life.

Like him he had real riches,

Yet he still rode on with strife.

*

He shook his head and covered his face,

Then slowly revealed his eyes.

And lo and behold, he wasn’t there

This young child that stole his guise.

*

“Here is my diamond”, he stuttered,

And pointed to his house and cars,

“Yet I still take out my broken wheels,

For a late ride under the stars.

*

“My father’s wallet was weightless,

Yet just look at where I am now!

I made it through to abundance,

But it’s me with the heavier brow!”

*

He grabbed a chair and sat,

And thought, it’s time to get married.

A time for love to give meaning

To all that he alone carried.

*

There’s no use in planting a tree

If you don’t feed the others it’s fruit.

For one to eat them all by himself,

Can plant a disease from its root.

*

The child reappeared in a sudden,

But this time the man wasn’t shocked.

He took his broken tricycle,

And banged the wheels with a rock.

*

“Stop! Don’t break my tricycle!”

The miniature boy exclaimed.

“It’s already broken my young one,

Look how its handles are stained”.

*

The boy stared at the man

With eyes so full of pride.

The man felt small and helpless

Beneath his gaze, and cried.

*

“So now you know, my boy”,

The little boy told his guise

“This tricycle is your ego,

And it’s about time it dies”.

*

The man heaved his shoulders,

And let out a sigh of relief,

“Thank you for reminding me of living,

The only way known to achieve”.

*

The boy looked at his tricycle,

“It’s time we leave this behind.

I will walk my way as you walk yours,

But our paths are always twined”.

*

The boy had a twinkle that shifted

From the diamond to his eyes.

He gave the pendant to the man and said,

“You give to receive the prize.

*

“The prize is priceless and promising,

It’s here where it seeds and grows”.

He pointed to where his heart pumped

And left with a Godly pose.

*