Like You

It's been a while...
Here's one I started a long time ago but finished tonight.

I shrugged as the judge said community service or jail; I chose to help kids that were not physically well.

My first day working in that hospital ward, I met a boy named Benjamin Ford.

Benjie was six and terminally ill, the cancer had taken his strength and his will.

And a tear came to my eyes as he said to me, “Sir, I want to be just like you, strong and free.”

And another fell as I tried to explain, “Ben, on the inside I’m crippled in pain.”

“I’m just like you on the inside, although I’m strong on the outside

My soul is hunched in its own wheelchair, and my spiritual self doesn’t have any hair.

Ya see Ben I’m sick too, there on the inside I’m just like you.”

The weeks went on and my time ran out, but I had the urge to keep comin’ ‘bout.

I spent hours with my new little friend, though it broke my heart every time I saw Ben.

Every day paler and skinnier he seemed to me, his small body was near it’s end I could see.

As he trembled there on his hospital bed, I leaned over and held up his head.

I choked back a sob as I said in his ear, “Benjie my friend you've got nothing to fear.”

“You’re just like me on the inside, although you’re weak on the outside.

Your soul is standing on its own two feet, and your spiritual self will never be beat.

Ya see Ben you are free, there on the inside you’re just like me.”