The Cold within

linnie · 01-12-2006, 12:14 PM

A very old friend gave me this he said a friend wrote it and I thought it was very moving so wanted to share it with you

Six humans trapped by happenstance
In dark and bitter cold
Each one possessed a stick of wood
or so the stories told

The dying fire in need of logs
The first woman held hers back.
For on the faces round the fire,
She noticed that one was black.

The next man looking across the way,
Saw one not of his church.
And couldnt bring himself to give,
The fire his stick of birch.

The rich man just sat back and thought,
Of the wealth he had in store.
And how to keep what he had earned,
From the lazy shiftless poor.

The black mans face bespoke revenge,
as the fire passed from sight.
For all he saw in his stick of wood,
Was a chance to spite the white.

The last man of this forlorn group,
Did nought except for gain.
giving only to those who gave,
was how he played the game.

The logs held tight in deaths still hands.
Was proof of human sin.
They didnt die from the cold without,
They died from the cold within.

Words to ponder as we go about in life dont you think???
This poem really moved me, we are all so different but at times everyone needs a hand no matter what thier circumstances in life.
Hope you enjoyed it

Jamila · 01-12-2006, 12:22 PM

That is an amazing poem. Im so glad you shared that. It is crazy how people are like that in this day and age.

bigdoglover · 01-12-2006, 12:42 PM

So true Jamila.....it's a great poem. Maybe when we start GlobalPaw Island, we can post that at the entrance.

RIo&Nickysmommy · 01-12-2006, 12:49 PM

That is such a great poem and so true teaches all about the prejdices in life.
Rio&Nickysmommy

TribalRats · 01-12-2006, 01:04 PM

wonderful poem

Mellie · 01-12-2006, 05:15 PM

I've always enjoyed this poem.

There's a stanza missing, that should be inserted between the church man and the rich man:
"The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich? "

I've seen this poem attributed to a few different authors; the most cited is James patrick Kinney. And some sources list the author as unknown. Whatever the case, it's a good one.

linnie · 01-13-2006, 01:07 AM

Thanks for that Mellie.
Whoever wrote it had a wonderful insight into the complexity of man

FarCritter10 · 01-13-2006, 01:21 PM

Wow, great poem. Thanx

crazy_puppy · 01-13-2006, 01:43 PM

Wow, very thought compelling indeed. I find it amazing the things some people can put in words....it takes a very creative person to be able to create such a nice peice art.

anaconda · 01-14-2006, 12:16 PM

Yikes.

01-12-2006, 12:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
linnie tibbie girl Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 3,051 Rep Power: 167	The Cold within A very old friend gave me this he said a friend wrote it and I thought it was very moving so wanted to share it with you Six humans trapped by happenstance In dark and bitter cold Each one possessed a stick of wood or so the stories told The dying fire in need of logs The first woman held hers back. For on the faces round the fire, She noticed that one was black. The next man looking across the way, Saw one not of his church. And couldnt bring himself to give, The fire his stick of birch. The rich man just sat back and thought, Of the wealth he had in store. And how to keep what he had earned, From the lazy shiftless poor. The black mans face bespoke revenge, as the fire passed from sight. For all he saw in his stick of wood, Was a chance to spite the white. The last man of this forlorn group, Did nought except for gain. giving only to those who gave, was how he played the game. The logs held tight in deaths still hands. Was proof of human sin. They didnt die from the cold without, They died from the cold within. Words to ponder as we go about in life dont you think??? This poem really moved me, we are all so different but at times everyone needs a hand no matter what thier circumstances in life. Hope you enjoyed it
	__________________ Caution...Dogs can leave footprints on your heart

01-12-2006, 12:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jamila Miss Fallon Dallon Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: oklahoma Posts: 2,661 Blog Entries: 5 Rep Power: 121	That is an amazing poem. Im so glad you shared that. It is crazy how people are like that in this day and age.
	__________________

01-12-2006, 12:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigdoglover Giant Schnauzers Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West-Central Illinois Posts: 3,624 Rep Power: 172	So true Jamila.....it's a great poem. Maybe when we start GlobalPaw Island, we can post that at the entrance.
	__________________ Glory and Greed will destroy the breed.

01-12-2006, 01:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
TribalRats Take Responsibility Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 3,327 Rep Power: 141	wonderful poem
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

01-12-2006, 05:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mellie Springer/Saint Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 449 Rep Power: 93	I've always enjoyed this poem. There's a stanza missing, that should be inserted between the church man and the rich man: "The third one sat in tattered clothes He gave his coat a hitch, Why should his log be put to use To warm the idle rich? " I've seen this poem attributed to a few different authors; the most cited is James patrick Kinney. And some sources list the author as unknown. Whatever the case, it's a good one.
	__________________ "One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him." -- Chinese Proverb

01-12-2006, 12:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
RIo&Nickysmommy Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Long Island Posts: 256 Rep Power: 60	That is such a great poem and so true teaches all about the prejdices in life. Rio&Nickysmommy

01-13-2006, 01:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
linnie tibbie girl Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 3,051 Rep Power: 167	Thanks for that Mellie. Whoever wrote it had a wonderful insight into the complexity of man
	__________________ Caution...Dogs can leave footprints on your heart

01-13-2006, 01:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
FarCritter10 Mutley Crew Mom Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 187 Rep Power: 74	Wow, great poem. Thanx
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01-13-2006, 01:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
crazy_puppy Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 169 Rep Power: 57	Wow, very thought compelling indeed. I find it amazing the things some people can put in words....it takes a very creative person to be able to create such a nice peice art.
	__________________ "Take this trouble for me, make sure my German Shepherd Dog remains a WORKING dog, for I have struggled all my life for that aim"- Max Von Stephanitz on his deathbed.

01-14-2006, 12:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
anaconda Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Spain Posts: 410 Rep Power: 63	Yikes.
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