Classic Poem

The rich man looks from the window;
A poor pilgrim passes by;
For alms he comes a-begging,
If the rich will have charity.
Jesus and Mary,
Pray, oh, pray, for me!

“For two whole days together,
Not a crumb to eat have I.”
“If I come down, you beggar,
I wager your feet will fly;

“I 'll make you leave in a hurry;
You won't wait for me if you 're wise!”
It is not quite an hour
Before the beggar dies.
He knocks at the gates of Heaven,
Of Heaven and Paradise.

Then Jesus says to Saint Peter:
“See who comes the gates to try.”
“Ah, Señor, it is the beggar
That the rich man left to die.”

“Oh, open the gates wide, Peter,
Of Heaven and Paradise.”
It is not quite an hour
Before the rich man dies.
He knocks at the gates of Heaven,
Of Heaven and Paradise.

Then Jesus says to Saint Peter:
“See who comes the gates to try.”
“It is the wicked rich man
Who let the beggar die.”

“Oh, shut the gates fast, Peter,
Of Heaven and Paradise,
And let him go below there;
They will not say him nay;
There will be two thousand demons
To torture him night and day;

“He will curse his father and mother,
Who gave him life and limb,
Godfather and godmother,
To the font who carried him;

“He will curse the priest whose fingers
The cross on his forehead signed;
He will curse the school and the learning
That kindled light in his mind.”