Rich Or Poor

The smiles of children stamped in the mint of memory are the coin of the realm of happiness!

 

My great grandfather and grandmother Ben and Babe Morgan Circa 1920s

A rich man's son inherits want

with no desire to work hands bare

Gives the job to another man

to look out from his easy chair

 

A poor man's son inherits grace

born of toil and sweat of his brow

He adjudged of hard earned merit

pushes on what body will allow

 

The rich man's son inherits greed

with what malice it may entail

Thinking others beneath his station

for lack of character he does ail

 

The poor man's son inherits kindness

which with all others level stands

Then asks the outcast bless his door

to share the fruit of his two hands

 

Heir to what is the rich man's son

tender flesh that fears the cold

To the poor never gives his time

nor dare he wear a garment old

 

Inheriting, it seems to me

what no good man would wish to be

 

Heir to what is the poor man's son

strong muscles and pounding heart

Chipped of a marble character

beloved by all he touched in part

 

Inheriting, it seems to me

what all good men would wish to be

No claim to copyright fair use assumed

Author's Note

It isn't that rich people are per-say bad. Nor that poor people are good. It is the human condition that sets up society by stature. And counts wealth by monetary gain. Money is never happiness. Yet we are told all the time that it is. Look around you. See the multitudes rushing to amass their fortunes. And for what. Women who followed Gloria Steinem's ideals that you can have it all are miserable. Why? Because you can't have it all. You can't spend a life climbing the corporate ladder. Waiting to reach some plateau in your late 30s and then start a family. Children are not easy to raise. Nor cheap to keep in health and happiness. So why does money seem to make so many crazy and so many unhappy? Because money can't hold a hand. Money can't read a child's bedtime story. And money cannot make memories that last a lifetime. Shared life does that. Family does that. Descendants are the answer to selflessness. I cannot forget the look of a child's face who waited for dad to come pick him up when we were children. Only to hear again and again dad was too busy to come get him. How long do we think we will live? Not long. The dreams of happiness preached on wall street are the lies that will not live forever neither will we. The smiles of children stamped in the mint of memory are the coin of the realm of happiness!
Tate

Reviews

[Hanan_Maliah]

My man Tate..I have actually read this through more then once...it is to be reflected upon with more then a first glance. This understanding of being rich and having the world laid at your feet has for eternity been taken in stride...BUT...when you have toiled with your hands to bring your worth it is only then that you become RICH...those that believe the word rich applies solely to monetary gains are in fact poor...I would far rather be rich in mind and spirit enough to enjoy a fresh rain that has kissed the sweetest of roses bringing forth the decadence of scent burnt into memory that only a rose can bring then to be delivered a dozen cut, wrapped, or vased only to die...even then I would try to dry them so their existence is captured in time. I have often told men "Money neither impresses me or keep me...clothes do not make the man but are held together by a simple thread...it is the man himself do not have me find you lacking!" This said I would then ask who is truly rich and sorry to say really the poor..........

[Tate Morgan]

You are a peach I lay my pen in reverence upon the ground beside your feet

[Samuel Dickens]

You speak many truths, Tate. I'm a poor man's son who's no longer poor, and will never forget my past. Wealth is nice, but the best things in life are free.

[Salvatore Buttaci]

Congratulations for winning Both-Sides-of-the-Coin Contest!

[Coyote Poetry]

You are correct in your words in this poem. Few rich kids have backbone or understand life. We need real examples to show us the proper ways. Your statements are strong and true. I like the ending a lot.
Coyote

[a]

frustrating truth.
thank you!

[Theresa]

First off the photo Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange is one of my favorite photographs. I loved this poem. Your words couldn't be more true. The poor man is raised aware of struggles and having to work for everything. It builds character and appreciation for all things. The rich man never struggles and never really can appreciate the simple things in life. Not saying its true for all but it is for most. Really enjoyed this piece.

[Kelley Quinn]

Your words are true and touching. The way you say it all, the bare truth, in such simple yet not simple manners. I'm not sure how to explain the magic of it all. But i loved it all the same.

[LadyNaida]

An individual holds so much richness inside and fails to see all the wonderful things that lye with in.

[Laura Nikkinen]

Love the concept, when I reached the end of it, I was half of expecting the poem to be continued by what those two sons will pass on to their sons, I mean... It doesn't need it, and it might repeat the point in vain, but just throwing the thought out there.

[Marie Anzalone]

I don't know... I think that there are advantages to each station. It is easy to romanticize poverty until you've lived in it, and with its effects. I would never want to raise my children to live by dumpster diving, as much street wisdom as that can bring. There are merits to education, and access to learning tools. The problem is not so much social class as it is care and compassion, I think. It's the ability to see others as not just human beings, but as equals. Becasue the truth is, we do not all start in the same place, but we do, as adults, have the option to start with a blank slate if we have the courage. it takes just as much courage to rise up out of poverty as it does to face those with less than you.

A very thought-provoking write, like all of your work

[C.M.]

Brilliant! Well done.