1. I passed by an old man, feeble in mind and hand
Crawling on the road, begging piteously

2. With heavy steps he walked, famished, downcast
The walk of a blind man, shackled helplessly

3. He went on, not knowing where his path would end
Nor from whence he had begun this odyssey

4. To ears he called out in a voice full of pain
Sad like an exile's dreams, lost and lonely

5. His withered hand he held out to each passerby
But reaped only despair through the years steadfastly

6. On his frail palm he lays his forehead
Asking, is there no shade of luck left for me?

7. Evil fills the earth and is its nature
The worst filled the past, today and tomorrow will see

8. This dust of earth is sighs of the disappointed
These pebbles are teardrops frozen steadfastly

9. The old man cast a look of sorrow around
And passed like the ghost of one threatened plaintively

10. Oh what a pitiful old man walking the hills
Lamenting as he wanders ceaselessly

11. He thinks people's palms will rain generosity on him
Not seeing that it's just his foolish reverie

12. And hunger coils inside his ribs
So he drifts not knowing where he will find sanctuary