I didn’t get the job cuz I helped an old man up the hill – a poem by studentasim

I didn’t get the job cuz I helped an old man up the hill
he was moving ever so slow
as he pushed his bicycle
walking just like a baby would crawl
and in that moment in time, the idea flashed through my mind
what should I do?
I should help this old man!
but what would I tell my people at home?
that I didn’t get the job cuz I helped an old man up the hill?
but yet as I zipped by
I couldn’t help but feel bad
that I didn’t stop
I was this close to being late
what if I helped the old man?
and then could have told the interviewer what had happened?
would the interviewer have believed me?
what if they didn’t? And I didn’t get the job?
I would be in trouble, looking for employment
my life constrained by economics
getting worse and worse each day
my situation arrested my instinct
a part of me feels dismay
what does one do?
the old man was trying so hard
I hope he made it to the top of the hill
even though he was of a different faith than me
even though he was a different person than me
it didn’t matter
I wanted to help
because it was the right thing to do
I just wish it was a different time
but I also wish it wasn’t
that If I could do something, somehow, and make it work
and I wouldn’t have to say:
I didn’t get the job cuz I helped an old man up the hill…