the poetry of Charles Fry

19 October 1994

Cognoscente

an old man sat behind a marble table observing the world
a small child cautiously approached
he removed his hands from his pockets
and dropped some gold coins onto the table
please sir
can i have some wisdom and knowledge
he timidly asked and then waited

the old man nodded his head
then gathered the coins and dropped them into a hole
he looked at the boy blinked smiled and patted his head

the small child stood there
then smiled back and peacefully walked away


Cogent

next a fine dressed young man came running full speed towards the table
out of breath he panted
I need money
now
and then impatiently stared

the old man nodded his head
then pointed his bent finger towards the hole
you can find some in there
but it will cost all of your knowledge and wisdom

the young man laughed mockingly
and running past the old man he jumped into the hole
but he was never able to get out
so was forced to pay anyway


Cognomen

after this a beggar stumbled up
he gloomily placed his hands in his holey pockets
and looked down at the table
oh wise one
do you have any peace and love to give the world
or are we all doomed to suffer
he sorrowfully asked and then looked up

the old man shook his head
then looked at the hole and sighed
he picked up the table put it in his pocket and slowly walked away

the beggar sat down and thought for a while
then stood threw his worries into the hole where they belonged
and followed after the old man

Copyright © 1994 Charles Fry