163. THE BEGGAR

His smiles
   Are lovelier than the moon.
His cries
   Are quieter than death.
His thoughts
   Are faster than the bullet.
His heart
   Is feebler than the tiniest ant.
His hopes
   Are richer than the Emperor supreme.
His life
   Is poorer than Eternity’s beggar.
Sri Chinmoy, The Dance of Life, Part 4, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1973