A boy lay quietly upon his bed

Pondering his problems around his head

He was of only fifteen years of age,

But he felt he had wisdom like a sage

Ready to be free, he believed he felt

But in reality he’d quickly melt

Under the stress the real world would supply

He’d sway and wilt like a flower, and die.

To go off on his own without a quell,

Quietly, without an immense farewell

Would be his dream if only he could try

And all his “knowledge” he would thus apply.

He believed his problems were far too much,

All the stress of school, work, and sports and such.

He figured how simple it all could be

If he could live his life as he were free

And live alone without all these burdens

And push his worries behind the curtain.

All of this, he thought was the certain truth

But adult life is more severe than youth.

And then an idea came in his head,

Of those less fortunate; without a bed.

All the worries and struggles they must face,

And all the necessities they must chase.

To find some money for something to eat,

All the arrogant people they must meet

Begging for a couple coins at their toes,

These appear to be even greater woes.

Or to find a warm, cozy place to stay,

At the finish of a lengthy, tough day.

Something other than a desolate bench

Amidst the twilight and a passing wench

A haven away from the wind and cold

A place to call home, a place to grow old.

What about their absence of worthy clothes,

Without a sock or shoe over their toes?

How could one find a place of work this way

With filthy clothes of sheets and rags of gray?

They’d become part of an infinite loop

And be trapped like a chicken in a coop

Until they are stiff; no longer alive

At that moment only they start to thrive

When they are absent of adversities

And can express all their diversities.

Now the boy thought of his life as he lay

And all of the good that happened that day

And realized his problems weren’t all that bad

When he saw all the fine items he had.

He had a home, a bed, a coat, a cat,

And a well-stocked pantry empty of rats.

Along with his family that loved him so,

Were his problems really that great? Oh no!

So the boy learned a valuable matter

That the hardship and strife of the latter

Are so much greater than he can complain

And he shouldn’t live his life in disdain,

For you can be happy about your life,

Once you consider poorer people’s strife.