Begging for change in winter.

• Author: Campo, Rafael
• Position: Poem

This season always makes me wish for peace,

Or dream of it at least, as I ignore

The signs of its receding from the world:

The headlines' promise of another war,

Or dream of it at least, as I ignore

An unkempt man who begs for change, who keeps

The headlines' promise of another war.

The rich against the poor, it's me against

This unkempt man who begs for change, who keeps

Reminding me of my humanity.

The rich against the poor--it's me against

The forces of injustice, all alone.

Reminding me of my humanity,

My coffee burns my tongue. It hurts to drink

The forces of injustice. All alone

In bed last night, I dreamed this happy dream:

My coffee burned my tongue, it hurt to drink

Because I'd nearly died from thirst and then

In bed--O last of nights!--I dreamed. This dream

Was like my dream of peace, except peace won

Because there was no death, no thirst. And then

The world was pure again, receiving gifts

And giving them. I toss the man my change.

This season...