"The Quarter"

A Children's Poem, by C.J. Heck

Children come into this world colorblind and nonjudgmental. As a parent, I feel one of our most important obligations is to encourage their natural respect for people and even celebrate the many differences.

Everyone is Somebody. We each have our own private story. There may be no way to know another’s story, or why they may live the way they do, but everyone deserves respect.

We should share what we are able to share, and never do anything to make anyone’s life worse.

The following poem is written from a child’s point of view, as all of mine are. It’s a gentle lesson to teach compassion and unselfish giving through one small boy on a walk with his dad.

The Quarter
A Children's Poem, by C.J. Heck

One day I found a quarter.
It was right there on the floor.
I put it in my pocket,
Just in case I found some more.

My Daddy took me with him
And I took my quarter, too.
We left to do some errands
Then we’re going to the zoo.
 
I could buy my Daddy somethin'
Somethin' special for the yard,
Or maybe somethin' fun to do,
'Cause he works very hard.

We walked down to the corner
And we saw a blind man there.
He was sittin' in a wagon
With a rag tied in his hair.

His clothes were kinda' ratty
And his face was sort of sad,
But he said hello to everyone
Just like he's really glad.

I looked up at Daddy
He saw the blind man, too.
I put my quarter in his cup
And the blind man said, "Bless You!"

I'm glad my daddy wasn't mad
When I gave away my money.
He said he was real proud of me.
Boy, grownups sure are funny.

Bye, Bye

[from the book, "Barking Spiders (and Other Such Stuff), by C.J. Heck]

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