The Beggar
A man with torn clothes,
Entangled hairs,
Covering himself barely with an old, dusty rug,
He is sitting at railway station,
Or near a temple,
He is squatting on the floor,
With trembling hands,
Holding a bowl,
The bowl has coins,
The coins vibrates as he shake them with trembling hands,
It is his music,
A man beg on the stairs of God’s house,
But no one looks at him,
Or pray for him,
Nor the owner nor the guards,
Day passes, night fells,
But the door is closed,
Everytime, only rich can enter,
And not the beggar with trembling hands.
~ Pranav Raj

FAQs – The Beggar
What is the poem The Beggar about?
The poem portrays the life of a beggar sitting outside places of faith and public movement, highlighting poverty, neglect, and social inequality.
What does the “trembling hands” symbolize?
They symbolize hunger, age, fear, and vulnerability, as well as the silent struggle of those ignored by society.
Why is the railway station and temple mentioned?
These places represent movement and faith—spaces where compassion should exist, yet the beggar remains unseen.
What is meant by “the coins are his music”?
It reflects how even small sounds of coins become a source of hope and survival, replacing joy or dignity.
What is the message of the poem?
The poem questions social hypocrisy, especially how wealth often decides access to comfort, faith, and humanity.
Does the poem criticize religion?
It does not criticize faith itself, but highlights how people fail to practice compassion, even in sacred spaces.
Who is the intended audience?
Anyone who wishes to reflect on empathy, social justice, and the unseen lives around us.
What emotion does the poem aim to evoke?
Sadness, reflection, and a quiet call for kindness and awareness.
Where can I buy poetry books?
You can buy books at Bookosmia website’s Shop section and Amazon.
Here are few poetry books available at Bookosmia. These Children’s Poetry Books are published by Bookosmia, India’s No 1 Children’s Book Publisher.
| Title | Age / description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| **I Can Rhyme! | Poetry Activity Book for Every Kid** | A fun activity book for kids about poetry (young author, age 8) Bookosmia |
| **Petals of Imagination | A Collection of Poems 8+** | A poetry collection for age 8+ Bookosmia |
| **Verse Traverse | Collection of Poems and Stories for Age 6+** | Mixed poems & stories for younger readers (age 6+) Bookosmia |
| **The World Through My Poems | A Collection of Poems 6+** | Poetry collection aimed at children around age 6+ Bookosmia |
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This Poem is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.
Photo Credit – AI generated images from Chat GPT and Magic Media from Canva .
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