THE HELPING STAND

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FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>some sort of vegetable stand,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>where farmers towed their garden load..</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>to sell for what they can.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * *</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>Well, I met a man who has a stand,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>but sells no crops does he;</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>what he has is help for man,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>and everything goes for free!</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * * </I></div> <div> <I>Above the door of his small store,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>a sign, "The Helping Stand".</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>" I give assist with my own gifts,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>I give a helping hand".</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * *</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>When I went in to talk to him,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>no humbler man seemed bred,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>with heavy sighs and tearful eyes</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>this is what he said:</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>"I have much wealth from life of stealth,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>which is a well known fact,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>and now my aim is cure the pain,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>by giving it all back!</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>For in my life there's been much strife,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>I stepped on many toes;</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>so help me God on all I've trod,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>I plan to end their woes.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>You wouldn't think a man would sink</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>to rob poor people blind,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>but down I sank in the lowest tank,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>and lost all peace of mind.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>Now, I'm alone and need to atone,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>I strive to set things right;</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>by giving back to those whom lack,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>is now my guiding light!</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>Any lone soul out in the cold,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>who needs a helping hand,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>I promise care for those despaired,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>if they'll come to my "Helping Stand".</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * *</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>In my heart, in stages, a battle rages,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>to square with all my sin;</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>I treated folks like mice in cages,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>it's time now to amend!</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * *</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>But there's a hitch in every stitch,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>in this one too.. you'll find;</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>that you must share my gifts in which</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>to make lives more sublime.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * *</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>You must not run, shun or hide </I></div> <div> <I>when sharing with others this wealth,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>what you receive, your conscience will lead,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>for others will need the help.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * *</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>So now receive and when you leave,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>go share these gifts I give,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>especially those in pain or bereaved,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>so they may happily live.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * * </I></div> <div> <I>Then you'll find at the end of the line,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>you missed the pit falls stinging,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>and like me, you'll forever be free,</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>as we join the angels singing!"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>* * * </I></div> <div> <I>William E. Hardison (c)</I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="ballad_of_the_status_quo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BALLAD OF THE STATUS QUO"><I>NEXT POEM</I></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>