Etwas Gedanken
STUFFED TOYS
I was having lunch at the Seah Im Food Court
Absent mindedly gazing at the TV, watching some sport
When I was approached by a young girl, slim and petite
She was austerely dressed, plain sandals on her feet
Having made her way through other patrons for a while
Holding out stuffed toys, she gave a tentative smile
I had just finished speaking to a friend on the phone
And was in the midst of chewing a piece of chicken bone
She showed me her toys as I dug into the chicken-rice
Brusquely I waved her away without even thinking twice
Without another word, she silently walked away
It struck me I should have given her a chance to say
And what she would have said in her childish voice
I thought of the cute, spotless white stuffed toys
Was she a destitute orphan in this land?
I wondered what circumstances had dealt her this hand
I was unconvinced she would really be capable
To sell good many toys as she moved from table to table
In a city of swanky malls, glitzy stores and trendy cafes
She was probably hawking her wares on her foot always
With the cost of food and living steadily on the rise
Especially fuel and accommodation reaching for the skies
She would definitely find it hard to make both ends meet
I can imagine more like her living it tough on the street
This refreshed more nameless faces in my mind
People struggling with reality, harsh and unkind
The haggard lady's tired face outside the station
The old man's wrinkles betraying his desperation
The blind standing alone in the middle of the throng
Playing guitar for a few dollars and singing along
And then the bent, old lady in worn out shirt and slacks
Meandering in hawker centers, selling tissue packs
Disabled and weak, young or old, male or female
Each struggling daily according to his or her tale
Despite adverse conditions, these people constantly try
To work ethically and hold their heads proud and high
If only we could reach inside our hearts to find
And speak out a few words, encouraging and kind
Would we want them to fall upon even worse times?
How would we react if they resorted to violent crimes?
Yes, I imagine each one of us must honestly concede
We have often splurged on something that we didn't need
I imagined the many opportunities that they lack
When the girl smiled, I regretted not smiling back
A stuffed, white bear was probably not what I would need
But couldn't I have contributed with a small, simple deed?
The soft toy girl was probably sick of this thankless work
And I had just behaved like an impatient, insensitive jerk
In the crowd, I could no longer see her from my seat
I looked around the busy place and got up to my feet
But she seemed to have disappeared as if in disguise
I was left with the image of unblinking but emotive eyes
Absent mindedly gazing at the TV, watching some sport
When I was approached by a young girl, slim and petite
She was austerely dressed, plain sandals on her feet
Having made her way through other patrons for a while
Holding out stuffed toys, she gave a tentative smile
I had just finished speaking to a friend on the phone
And was in the midst of chewing a piece of chicken bone
She showed me her toys as I dug into the chicken-rice
Brusquely I waved her away without even thinking twice
Without another word, she silently walked away
It struck me I should have given her a chance to say
And what she would have said in her childish voice
I thought of the cute, spotless white stuffed toys
Was she a destitute orphan in this land?
I wondered what circumstances had dealt her this hand
I was unconvinced she would really be capable
To sell good many toys as she moved from table to table
In a city of swanky malls, glitzy stores and trendy cafes
She was probably hawking her wares on her foot always
With the cost of food and living steadily on the rise
Especially fuel and accommodation reaching for the skies
She would definitely find it hard to make both ends meet
I can imagine more like her living it tough on the street
This refreshed more nameless faces in my mind
People struggling with reality, harsh and unkind
The haggard lady's tired face outside the station
The old man's wrinkles betraying his desperation
The blind standing alone in the middle of the throng
Playing guitar for a few dollars and singing along
And then the bent, old lady in worn out shirt and slacks
Meandering in hawker centers, selling tissue packs
Disabled and weak, young or old, male or female
Each struggling daily according to his or her tale
Despite adverse conditions, these people constantly try
To work ethically and hold their heads proud and high
If only we could reach inside our hearts to find
And speak out a few words, encouraging and kind
Would we want them to fall upon even worse times?
How would we react if they resorted to violent crimes?
Yes, I imagine each one of us must honestly concede
We have often splurged on something that we didn't need
I imagined the many opportunities that they lack
When the girl smiled, I regretted not smiling back
A stuffed, white bear was probably not what I would need
But couldn't I have contributed with a small, simple deed?
The soft toy girl was probably sick of this thankless work
And I had just behaved like an impatient, insensitive jerk
In the crowd, I could no longer see her from my seat
I looked around the busy place and got up to my feet
But she seemed to have disappeared as if in disguise
I was left with the image of unblinking but emotive eyes
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STUFFED TOYS
STUFFED TOYS
