Love in Hard Times

In the depression what we’d do

was wait ’til a freight train came thru.

We threw pine cones at the hobos

who were riding coal cars we chose.

They threw the coal back at us.

So we received our stove coal thus.

Later they might knock at our door

and say,“In case you might need more.”

They brought us armloads of fuel

and we would feed them warm gruel.

Poor people helping each other

any way we could discover.

Warm baths were what they needed.

coal was how water was heated.

Walt Abbott–4-5-2011