The Old Road to Paradise/A Boy of the Ghetto

by Margaret Widdemer

A BOY OF THE GHETTO

He goes out with his Dreams
 Through the dingy city square,
Purple- and silver-winged
 They go with him everywhere.

The quarreling hags at the windows
 Have voices unkind, unsweet,
But his Dreams have silver voices
 And starrily-slippered feet;

The workmen push on the pavement
 And laugh and curse as they go,
But he is far with his Dreams
 On a road they do not know;

He walks far off with the Dreams
 That whisper and sing beside
And his face is glad and still
 And his eyes are burning-wide;

He goes out with his Dreams
 Through a golden wonder-place
With the light of God in his eyes
 And the peace of God in his face.