Life Line

(Musician in the Rain by Robert Doisneau)

They call this the poor man's street

Every body here is looking to survive

The sun might shine bright or shy away

For a simple meal we all have to strive

The man behind me paints his pain

The lady at the other side begs for alms

She sits with tears and a worn out cloak

Her wailing son just stretches his palms

We all are strangers at this place

Even though we have a common goal

We might not talk to each other

But there is a hole in each of our soul

My lone friend here is this cello

I call her Jenny, after my wife

She left me a long time ago

Leaving me with a crumbling life

I chose not to give up hope

I started a new life with her name

I just want to get past each day

Because hunger strikes like a burning flame

She is my prized possession

For her I shall give up myself

Her tones earn me a bowl of soup

She is my ever helping elf

I might survive this cold wet day

But I want her symphony to shine

A dose of medicine shall help me

I want her to be safe, my life line

Written for The Magpie Tales: Mag 203.

~ Soumya