Three Rusty Nails

Mother, there’s a strange man

Waiting at the door

With a familiar sort of face

You feel you’ve seen before.

Says his name is Jesus

Can we spare a couple of bob

Says he’s been made redundant

And now can’t find a job.

Yes I think he is a foreigner

Egyptian or a Jew

Oh aye, and that reminds me

He’d like some water too.

Well shall I give him what he wants

Or send him on his way?

OK I’ll give him 5p

Say that’s all we’ve got today.

And I’ll forget about the water

I suppose it’s a bit unfair

But honest, he’s filthy dirty

All beard and straggly hair.

***

Mother, he asked about the water

I said the tank had burst

Anyway I gave him the coppers

That seemed to quench his thirst.

He said it was little things like that

That kept him on the rails

Then he gave me his autographed picture

And these three rusty nails.