u/DungeonMarshal

A beggar. A dusty corner. A windblown street.

A rusted can

There at the beggar's feet.

A fiver, some crumpled ones, a quarter or two,

In the rusted can,

By the beggar's shoe.

-

A rich man. A skyscraper. An executive suite.

Exotic leathers

Adorn the rich man's feet.

A Rolex, a Bentley, a beach house upon pure white sand,

All things desired,

In the palm of the rich man's hand.

-

A body. A graveyard. An epitaph in stone.

An elegant box

To hold body and bone.

No can, no Bentley, no mirth.

Only the box,

Beneath six feet of earth.

A beggar. A dusty corner. A windblown street.

A rusted can

There at the beggar's feet.

A fiver, some crumpled ones, a quarter or two,

In the rusted can,

By the beggar's shoe.

-

A rich man. A skyscraper. An executive suite.

Exotic leathers

Adorn the rich man's feet.

A Rolex, a Bentley, a beach house upon pure white sand,

All things desired,

In the palm of the rich man's hand.

-

A body. A graveyard. An epitaph in stone.

An elegant box

To hold body and bone.

No can, no Bentley, no mirth.

Only the box,

Beneath six feet of earth.

When the sun turns red and starts to sink.

When shadows flow just like spilled ink.

When you dare not whistle, for fear of being found

By unknown things drawn to the sound.

When the whippoorwill calls to claim a soul.

When merry thoughts turn black as coal.

When cats' eyes shine like glittering emeralds,

And joy and peace are only ephemeral.

When the western sky bleeds,

And nocturnal things feed.

When shades and wraiths freely roam

Within the comfort of the dreary gloam.

Dusk has come.

Dusk has come.

Wait until dawn.