A taste of love for fifty cents

 The old lady cried

 As subway crowds came and went.

 With hurry and not even a glance

 The people scurried onward

 As she chanted her song

 "A taste of love for fifty cents"

 Time was fixed in eternal day

 As the florescent lights hummed

 Down deep in the subway.

 Still from the midst of the crowd

 Came the words

 "A taste of love for fifty cents".

 Repeatedly she sang this line

 When suddenly a scrubby young lad

 With worn out jeans

 Smiled and spoke

 As he held out a pudgy hand

 "Ma'm, he said

 All I have is a dime.  Can you just tell me

 Of the thing that you call, love?

 I don't have enough for a taste

But I would like to know what it is

 If it ever comes my way".

 With that, tears

 Rolled down the old lady's face

 And with a soft

 And silent smile

 She reached down

 And gave the child

 A mother's hug.

 J. Allen Wilson © 2003