Jack Scott writes

Thirst 

A penny, sir, 
please give a cent 
or more if you can spare it, 
for I am but a beggar 
and am not long for here. 
I knew too much 
to make a living out of life, 
so here I am. 
I’ll linger long as kindness lasts. 
It’s cold enough to freeze, you know. 
My feet are wet, 
my belt is out of notches; 
there’s hunger and there’s thirst. 
You need not know 
which craving you’d support. 

Thank you, sir. 
You have not tithed, we know, 
but this will buy a drink 
to numb the night and blanket me 
with dreamlessness 
so I may confront tomorrow.
 
 Gloomy Faces -- Mrutyunjaya Dash