When I was going home

 

  the darkness was around,

 

  nobody on the street,.

 

  I saw an old woman,

 

  she was a dandelion like,.

 

  she rummaged in the refuse bins

 

  which were all alike.

 

  She was the one who's got her pension

 

  "in the proportion with her job".

 

  I wouldn't like here to mention

 

  that she was just robbed.

 

  She bought the medicines

 

  had not enough for food,

 

  she bought the food

 

  had not enough for medicines.

 

...And close to the refuse bins

 

  there was a stall

 

  and boxes with the fruit were near by.

 

  "It looks you're pushed of money"-

 

  she heard the voice.

 

  "take some from here,

 

  it's much better choice."

 

She smiled sadly and

 

I've heard her answer:

 

"Can't take another’s’".

 

And with those words

 

  she slowly moved......

 

  to another refuse bin.

 

  I saw that scene.

 

  I began to cry

 

  and I know why.

 

  I was delighted with her greatness,

 

  I was ashamed of my carefree life;

 

  and if I were her I wouldn't decline.

 

 

 

Larisa R(Odessa, Ukraine)