Tribute

I knew a man, a humble man

Who lived on simple fare.

He clothed himself in shoddy things

No other man would wear.

His manners weren't graceful,

If you reckon by the code;

You know him by a slouching gait

When down the way he strode.

They said his speech was very blunt;

Too free his mind he spoke

Whenever he would mingle with

The other simple folk.

One day I heard a rumor that

This humble man was dead;

And I was there to listen to

The things his neighbors said.

His life, they said, was no success;

He left no fine estate;

But then, he owed not any man

I heard some one relate.

He hadn't lived a social life

Like other men you know.

But for some nameless human trait,

The children loved him though.

They wouldn't miss his mingling

In political affairs;

But some averred they'd miss the way

He whistled cheerful airs.

The preacher couldn't think of much

To say in praise of him;

But the mourning of the humble

Was a silent requiem.

I heard that when they got around

To opening his will

He had left his slender holdings

To some poor folks on the hill.

Now, when the neighbors pass his place,

I see them stop and stare

At how one loyal friend, his dog,

Persists in waiting there.