Tin Whistle Player.

Goldfinch60



He sits there on the street

Playing his tin whistle,

Sad tunes waft into my heart.

I used to walk by,

But then I paused,

Put some money in his cap,

He said thank you.

Then I stopped and spoke,

We spoke of music,

I too play the tin whistle.

We spoke of playing,

Of the enjoyment it gives.

He said he wished he knew more,

Knew more tunes.

That is when it happened,

The thought came to me,

I had music for tin whistles.

Then came that day

When I stopped with him once more

And gave him the music,

His face became full of smiles,

And almost brought tears,

Tears to both him and me,

As he looked at me

And with the kindest look said

“Thank you boss

Thank you so very much”

  • Author: Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: October 29th, 2019 02:46
  • Comment from author about the poem: This is about a man I see every week in the town centre, sitting there playing his tin whistle. I have started chatting to him, he is homeless but the local council does try and help him with overnight accommodation some of the time, I have heard a few of his woes but his music keeps him going.
  • Category: Reflection
  • Views: 110
  • Users favorite of this poem: Poetic Dan
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Comments +

Comments11

  • orchidee

    Ahh, a touching write Gold.
    hey, I know him too, I reckon. Yep, he burst into tears too when I met him. Only cos I started singing to his tin whistle music! heehee.
    Why did I have to turn up and spoil it all?
    You back from that Battle of Balaclava Reunion - Oct 25th (1854)?

  • orchidee

    Also - I see some regular Big Issue sellers. Some look really well. Not that they have to look down-trodden. But are they all genuine?

  • Neville

    sadly.. there are more of these whistle blowers in every town across the land... .. sad is the fact that no one sets out in life to become homeless, to develop an addiction or to develop a mental illness in any of its many forms.... there are of course many other reasons for homelessness... none of them happy ones....... Nicely captured and shared GF60...

    • Poetic Dan

      Word

      • Goldfinch60

        Thank you Neville, this should not be so in this day and age.

      • Poetic Dan

        Haha. You are the "Boss" well played sir & so easily written I reckon ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Beauty & truth flow effortlessly!
        Thanks for sharing

        • Goldfinch60

          Thank you Dan. If I were boss I would try and do something about it instead of the little that is in my power to do.

          • Poetic Dan

            But yet is that not all we can do? The best of our means in this human colony...

          • Fay Slimm.

            This read filled my soul with both sadness and joy - to know there are still people like your self dear Andy - willing to help or even befriend those who often through no fault of their own become homeless brings hope to this heart that conditions may change for folk like the whistle player. Thank you for sharing your kind contact with us here on M.P.S.

            • Goldfinch60

              Thank you so much Fay, I try and do what I can and wish I could do more.

            • Lamar Cole

              Very Good Poem.

            • ron parrish aka wordman

              loved it andy,poem,music

              • Goldfinch60

                Thank you Ron, much appreciated.

              • ANGELA & BRIAN

                ANGELA HERE - Good Evening Uncle Andy a very altruistic & moving account ! Brian & I love the Republic of Ireland and the Irish Music & Dancing ! The PENNY WHISTLE is very haunting - thanks for video ! I feel very much @ Home in the Republic - their MANANA (Tomorra* In the Mornin*) attitude reminds me of Spain. We love the BARS theres always singin* with an impromptu group of FIDDLE - IRISH DRUM - FLUTE - CONCERTINA - JOANNA etc ! If BRIAN has his GUITAR he*ll sit in (coming from Liverpool he knows all the Irish songs) and & I*ll dance for them - sing & tinkle the ivories. They love it when *Strangers* come in the BAR & throw their hat in the RING !
                Back to the SUBJECT ! Love what you did for the Penny Whistle Player - I guess you restored His Dignity. Brian & I support any of the *Street People* if they are acctually doing something ! Singing - Playing - Dancing - Selling the Big Issue etc. If they just sit there begging we are less inclined to help them (unless they have DOG !) OK It is interesting that in both MEXICO & CUBA we didn't see anybody JUST BEGGING they were all PERFORMING as only Mexicans & Cubans (both HISPANICS) can ! In CUBA we didnt see anybody sleeping ROUGH either and no heavy POLICE PRESENCE as in London & New York ~ AMEN !

                Bkesings & Peace to YOU & JOYCE
                Love ANGELA & BRIAN ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿงก
                Please check our Poem AUTUMN TO WINTER - Thanks !

              • Goldfinch60

                Thank you Angela, all I can do is try and help where I can.

              • dusk arising

                Very relaxing peaceful music.

                I can picture you and the scenes you describe here all too well. It's in your positive nature. Giving, sharing, encouraging... who got the most pleasure from this act ....
                the answer is so obvious saintly sir!

                Pleasure to read this easy flowing piece.

                • Goldfinch60

                  Thank you d a, the common theme of music helps all, as you well know.

                • Suresh

                  ..the saddest part is when they become resigned, and it's even sadder when we become indifferent..

                  • Goldfinch60

                    Yes indifference is very sad in a world where those that have the power to help all only think of themselves and ignore those in need.



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