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LAMP
FELL-YELLIN

of old furniture, 
it renewed and beautified it. 
It chased away the gloom 
from the peeling old walls-
All that-as long as it remained
the guest of Poverty.
The lamp felt good 
with people who appreciated 
a bit of light.
It was good to see how wonderfully the light 
fell upon the brown-skinned faces,
upon the colored moving legs and hands,
to see the joyful shadows dancing on the walls,
to watch the sad face of the housewife
how she counts and counts and counts once more
her weekly payments on this lamp.
Soon she will have no more worries,
one more month and one more week...and 
she will call the lamp her very own!
But (as if it happened today),
the lamp remembered
another woman crying bitterly:
"Oh no, it cannot be,
I shall not permit it,
no, no, no- 
don't take the lamp away!
Justice! Is this justice? One month left to pay!
and I paid and paid so much already!"
She caresses the lampshade;
no use-no use-too late!

Have you ever seen-
have you ever heard 
the story of a simple lamp
that became a Legend?
A lamp like others of its kind,
not the very best,
not the most beautiful-
once again displayed in the show window
on its brass base,

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Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-09 12:06:53 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-09 12:59:49