Beggars ballet

This comes from an experience I had sitting in traffic in Lahore, Pakistan.

I was in a fine car on a big street in a poor land.
And as we stopped out of nowhere came a hand.
It danced and swayed, dipped and waved.

I had never seen a more beautiful hand.
Asking, beckoning, beguiling
I'd never seen such a beautiful hand.
Dancing the beggar's ballet.

Because it's a fine line between want and need. 

A short hop between lost and free.
I wish I knew what I want 'cause I sure don't know what I need.

Dancing the beggar's ballet.

The dancing hand came from a legless man

Who traveled the world on a square wood slab

No one sees him but for his hand. 

I have never seen a more beautiful hand.

Asking, begging, smiling

I've never seen such a beautiful hand.

Dancing the beggar's ballet.

Because it's a fine line between want and need.

A tiny distance from lost to free

Please tell me what to want 'cause I sure don't know what to need.

Dancing the beggar's ballet.

I'm like the beggar and my hand sways too

Chasing pennies on a slab of wood

Come dance with my pretty hand,

Have you ever seen such a beautiful hand?

Asking, begging, pleading.

Have you ever seen a more beautiful hand?

Dancing the beggar's ballet

Because It's a fine line between want and need

A narrow space between lost and free

Can you tell me what I need, because I just don't want to be 

dancing the beggar's ballet.



Copyright William Reeves 2014