Guilt & Shame

A gentleman of means stood in
The exclusive Club de Joie,
Enjoying a tall glass of gin,
When suddenly he saw
A beggar lying at the door,
His face so pale and sad—
He thought he’d seen that man before.
He said, “Excuse me. Dad?”
“Oh, don’t mind me,” his father said.
“I’m only in your way.
I’m weak and sick, I’ll soon be dead,
Perhaps later today.
I only came because I thought
That maybe you could find
A—no, I’m sorry, I forgot
You’ve so much on your mind.
Ah! My heart! The light grows dim!
I’ll leave you now. Goodbye!”
The fine young man looked down at him
And this was his reply.

No, I won’t feel guilty, Dad,
For I am not to blame,
And I won’t let you put on me
A load of grief and shame.
Life is full of sunshine,
Love is a clear blue sky,
Tomorrow is a brand-new day,
God bless you and goodbye.

That evening he was standing
Underneath a bright marquee,
There to attend the gala ball
Dressed so handsomely,
Chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Saks
At the discotheque,
When suddenly a pile of rags
Reached out and touched his leg.
“Hello,” she said. “It’s me. Your mom.
Sorry to get in your way.
I guess you had forgotten me
And Dad, but that’s okay.
I’m only your poor old relative,
There’s no reason you should care,
But do you think that you might have
A couple bucks to spare?
I nursed you as a loving mother
And held you on my knee,
And now you’ve thrown us in the gutter,
Your poor old dad and me.
I am your flesh, I gave birth
To you—oh, the pain that night!
And now you’re treating me like dirt,
Your mom. But that’s all right.
I forgive. I understand.
You enjoy yourself, my child.”
He took her gently by the hand
And spoke to her and smiled.

No, I refuse to feel guilty
For I am not to blame
And I won’t let you put on me
A load of grief and shame.
For life is full of sunshine
And love is a clear blue sky,
Tomorrow is a brand-new day,
God bless you and goodbye.

He arrived at quarter to three
At his mansion on the hill
And sat in his library
And sipped his port, until
He heard, upstairs, a child cough
And cry: Dad, I want you.
He found her with her blanket off,
So feverish from the flu,
Tears streaming down the angel face.
He tried to comfort her.
She cried, “I was looking everyplace.
I didn’t know where you were.
I heard some voices, I was scared,
It was too dark to see.
I thought that you had disappeared
’Cause you were mad at me.
Whydja go, Dad? Tell me. Huh?
Tell me what I did.
Left alone without no one,
Lying sick in bed.
All alone with no one here
But my old cat. And Mom.”
The father brushed away a tear,
He trembled but was calm.

No, I won’t feel guilty, child,
For I am not to blame
And I won’t let you put on me
A load of grief and shame.
Life is full of sunshine,
Love is full of light,
Tomorrow is a brand-new day,
God bless you and good night.

He sat downstairs a little while
And thought about his kin:
His dad, his mother, and his child.
Just then the cat walked in.
She sat and stared into his face
With cool relentless eyes;
He felt the judgment in her gaze
So righteous and so wise.
She looked at him till he fell down
In anguish at her feet
And wept and threw his arms around
That cat, his shame complete.

I am guilty and ashamed
For everything I’ve done!
Sins that I’ve forgotten, now
I feel them, every one.
Life is full of sorrow,
Love is all in vain,
Tomorrow and tomorrow
Only bring us grief and pain.

He did not see the cat’s expression.
She smiled to hear his sad confession.
She knew that, using this technique,
She would get tuna all next week.