Seen at a Gate (was House Poor) - edit4

[dukealien]

Seen at a Gate


I passed an old man chipping at a gate
of iron, chiseling its coat of rust,
and wondered what had made that work his fate.
Could it be failure, poverty he must
confront by taking menial jobs each day?
Or was he house-poor, working on his own
dear residence because he couldn’t pay
a younger laborer, so scraped alone?
That place was grand:  no meaner home, like mine,
has fences so demanding or so fine.

edit3;

House Poor



I passed an old man chipping at a fence

of iron, slowly scaling off its rust,

and wondered what had brought this ancient thence–

could he be destitute, so poor he must

find menial jobs to earn his keep each day?

Or was he house-poor, working on his own

last residence because he couldn’t pay

a younger man to help, and scraped alone?

That place was grand:  no cheaper home, like mine,

has fences so demanding or so fine.



edit2;



I passed an old man chipping at a fence

of iron, slowly scaling off its rust,

and wondered what had brought this ancient thence–

could he be destitute, so poor he must

take menial jobs to earn his keep today?

Or was he house-poor, working on his own

last residence because he couldn’t pay

a younger man to help, so scraped alone?

That place was grand:  no cheaper home, like mine,

has fences so demanding or so fine.



edit1;



I passed an old man chipping at a fence

of iron, slowly scaling off its rust,

and wondered what had brought this codger thence–

could he be destitute, so poor he must

perform odd jobs to earn his bread today?

Or was he house-poor, working on his own

last residence because he couldn’t pay

a younger man to help, so scraped alone?

That place was nice; no cheaper home, like mine,

has fences so demanding or so fine.



original version;



I passed an old man chipping at a fence

of iron, slowly scaling off its rust,

and wondered what had brought this codger thence–

could he be destitute, so poor he must

perform odd jobs to earn his bread each day?

Or was he house-poor, working on his own

last residence because he couldn’t pay

a younger man to help, so scraped alone?

That place was posh; a cheaper home, like mine,

boasts no fence so demanding or so fine.