163. The beggar

His smiles
    Are lovelier than the moon.
His cries
    Are quieter than death.
His thoughts
    Are faster than the bullet.
His heart
    Is feebler than the tiniest ant.
His hopes
    Are richer than the Emperor supreme.
His life
    Is poorer than Eternity’s beggar.
Sri Chinmoy, The Dance of Life, part 4, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1973