The person with an empty purse

A poem by Rabi Roy

It was a winter evening.

Cold wind was blowing

And I was waiting for a bus in the city of joy.

On my way home from my office.

Suddenly, a tall and bearded person appeared before me.

Showed his empty purse and asked for a ten-rupee coin.

I watched curiously the person---

Wearing a torn shirt and trousers,

Looking very thin and starved —

And then I asked,

Why not five or fifteen?

He didn’t hesitate to answer---

Five carries no value, fifteen too much but

Ten is enough for my small stomach, Sir.

I opened my purse and gave him two ten rupee coins,

He took both and then returned one.        

I asked why he returned one.

He replied in a solemn voice and with a smiling face---

It wasn’t return.

He just deposited one in my purse and asked me,

When you’ll meet someone else like me next time,

Give it to him on my behalf, Sir.

Then he went away to fill up his small stomach.