The Feathers of Eternal Happiness

"Come hither- have you seen
These little feathers, they aren't
From here, you see. The sheen-
And the rich black- only a sharp eye
Can tell, and you, madam, possess
The sharp eye. So, madam, only
For six coins a piece, will you buy
These feathers of eternal happiness?

Nail them to your roof- and they will
Turn your humble abode into a castle-
Cast one aside for the jars- you'll never
Go hungry again." And all the little passers-by
Thronged the little man- some took three
Some ten- some two baskets of
The feathers of eternal happiness.

And in the evening- he lowered the heavy crates
From his back and saw about two sackfuls
Left in his stock- and he counted in his hands
Just enough to get his son bread- and slowly
He wept with the coins in his hands.
His son slid, silently- saw the sacks and
Wiped his father's face full of glistening tears
With the feathers of eternal happiness.