Hughson, CA
ajedward
THE WISHING WELL
By Anthony Edwards
A boy stood at a wishing well, in his hand, his only penny
A penny wish was all he had, for hope hadn’t any
He leaned over the old black brick, and feeling rather rash
Closed his eyes and let the penny fall to a distant splash
He held his eyelids tightly closed, and wished with all his might
That just this once might see him fed, and safe and warm this night
For earlier that very day, upon a lonely dusty street
The little boy had spotted something gleaming at his feet
He placed his foot upon the penny, his feet so bare and cold
And waited till the road was free of people young and old
Then as soon as he was able, just when he thought it best
He scooped the penny quickly up and held it to his chest
The little boy took to the forest, quickly, like a fox
He thought of buying a loaf of bread, or maybe shoes and socks
He dreamed of tasting candy like the pretty children ate
and hid beneath an old gray tree, the hour growing late
When there beyond the meadow, just as sure as he could tell
A turret made of old black brick, the fabled “wishing well”
It seemed to call him softly so he rose to meet its call
Until he rested on the old black brick, his penny soon to fall
In desperation, maybe… a gamble, there’s no doubt
A penny could buy many things he’d so long done without
Yet there he stood as night fell, both hands empty now
Regret touched him, sweetly, but he’d get by somehow
So as he wandered into darkness, away from that dark pit
He made a promise to himself that he would never quit
And that come the sunshine, upon awaking the next day
He would find work in the village, digging trench or pitching hay
Many years later, as the story goes
A rich man came to town, dressed in dapper, fine new clothes
To some he looked familiar, but they did not know his face
He seemed to know his way around…he seemed to now the place
He smiled upon the village square, as though he’d seen it all before
Then in the months that followed, he built shelter for the poor
He opened up a kitchen where the hungry ate for free
And to everyone who asked, he gave them shoes and socks to please
He built a home for children where they could all sleep oh, so well
And over the door he hung a sign that said, “The Wishing Well”
Copyright 2013 Anthony John Edwards. All rights reserved.
Hughson, CA
ajedward