Listen to the poem on http://www.secondaryschoolpoems.com/#/sample-poems/4527289594 - as TTCBB
Listen to the song from this poem,'The Man' - music written and song sung by Toby Huelin
In the book, 'Choice for teenagers'
Things That Cannot Be Bought
I saw a man, he had a coat - like gold it shone so clear
I asked him where he bought it and had it cost him dear?
'You cannot buy a coat like this', he replied to me
'It is called Courage - but it did not come free
‘I went through a field of pain, I got to the other side
I had no one to help me and no horse with me to ride'
I saw a man with a hat - it was like a silver moon
I asked him where he bought it and could I get one soon?
'You cannot buy a hat like this’, he replied to me
‘It is called Kindness - and it did not come free
I helped one who was lost and one who could not walk
One who had no food and drink and one too ill to talk’
I saw a man with shiny boots, strong - light as if a feather
I asked him where he bought them - he said he hadn't - ever
‘You cannot buy boots like these’, he replied to me
‘They are called Endurance and they do not come free
I had to work beyond my strength and for so very long
No other there to lift the load and no help came along’
I saw a man with a light - that shone so far and bright
I asked him where he bought it - as it beamed into the night
‘You cannot buy a light like this’, he replied to me
‘It is called eternal Hope. It was given to me - free
I had lost direction, I had battled to the end
I had coped when all seemed lost, for myself I had to fend
Then a light I suddenly saw - upon my darkest day
I did not ask, it was just there - and then I found my way’
You have to find your Courage
Kindness comes from very deep
Endurance needs much effort
But
Hope is yours - to keep
With my permission, a young and talented musician/composer Toby Huelin has made this poem into a beautiful song called 'The Man'- to listen go to
Toby Huelin's songs
Poem is CopyrightA Coatesworth 2007