Bartimeus was blinded in an accident,

Causing grief and bitterness to remain.

His life changed: he became a beggar.

He heard one day of the coming Lord,

The worker of miracles profound.

“Blessed be God,” said he,

So he worked his way through the crowd,

And began his plea:

“Jesus, son of David, have mercy upon me!”

This he shouted again and again,

Causing the Master to turn to him.

The Master said, “What do you want of me?”

“That I may see,” Bartimeus replied.

Touching him, the Lord complied,

And opened the poor man’s eyes and heart

To beauty, love, and a world renewed.

David C. Hakim

Rochester, Michigan

October 28, 2003