Beggar's Game

When a beggar and two burglars sat on a bench,
it was sunny and warm on a mid-summer’s day.
Everyone sat in silence as tension grew thick
till the beggar undid it by chiming, “Hurray!”

“Why so happy?” the burglars inquired at once
as if sadness and despair were part of their act.
And indeed the inquiry wallowed in woe
from two burglars bereft of a smidgen of tact.

“3.2 million people live here in LA,”
said the beggar as he buttoned his overcoat.
The two burglars responded in unified voice,
“If you‘re compelled to beg, then it‘s silly to gloat.”

“It is logic by numbers,” the beggar went on,
rubbing his whiskered chin as if pondering life;
“the entire town wins if there is need to give,”
said the beggar as if his tongue was a sharp knife.

In the meantime there were many walkers extant
utilizing the park for enjoyment’s intent.
With a grin on his face and a nudge to the left,
the brash beggar assumed they were all Heaven sent.

But nobody would stop by the three on the bench;
the poor beggar made notes then departed with flair.
As the burglars and beggar notes bided the bench,
it was evident kindly concession is rare.


24 Lines
Writer’s Cramp
August 8, 2014

Requirements:
--sadness and despair
--3.2 million
--the entire town wins
--burglars and beggar notes