Once upon a time I learned a lesson
On how to over come a wrongful transgression
In judging those upon the street
Who I hadn't yet a chance to meet

This didn't come by bumping into
A fellow man I never knew
And giving him time to prove to me
He wasn't the man I assumed him to be

But rather quite clear in my plain view
In my home that lesson grew
Upon my shelves so perfectly right
Beautiful books for every ones sight

Shakespeare, Bronte,Hemingway, Poe
Hawthorne,Whitman,all the greats I know
Twain, and Browning,Plat and Frost
I had them all despite the cost

I was proud to know them all
And have them rest against my wall
The finest covers,leather bound
Without a flaw that could be found

My centerpiece, around my fireplace
Sitting there in all their grace
And the beauty found outside and in
I cannot deny made me grin

Oh what they cost me these fine editions
Of wisdom and beauty and poetical traditions
As I searched them out one by one
No price too high with the collection done

Then one day in a corner store
Of antique things one does look for
The lady there who owned the place
Took a liking to my face

And as I browsed for an antique trunk
Through the store of somewhat junk
I ran across a treasure true
But by its looks no one knew

I held it dear as I glanced her way
"Excuse me mam how much for this today?"
She turned to me with the oddest look
"You really want that tattered book?"

I said,"Why yes I think I do,
If it's all the same to you."
She said "It's not worth a single dime."
I said "That's only your state of mind."

So she gave a grin, "Its not for sale.
It has no price that book of tale.
But... you can have it now for free.
It has no value in this store for me."

So then I left with book in hand
To another store and bought a stand
Took it home in all its grace
for the mantle ABOVE my fireplace

And when my husband that day came home
He said, "What on earth is that you now own?"
It's quite hideous if you do compare
It to the books on the shelves over there."

"How much did you spend on a stand for that thing?"
My reply,"Enough my dear to buy a nice ring."
He grumbled and said "Well I hope it wont stay
Very long there on center display."

What no one knew was what I saw
Inside the throw away book for all
An 18th century antique book
That no one bothered to give a look

And just what book do you think it could be
That held such a lesson inside for me?
More than another could ever provide
That the neglected cover could not hide

The king James Bible in entirety
In the rarist of form given to me
Sadly misjudged by it's outside look
The greatest treasure of any book

And the lesson For me in this my true tale
Is surely God's word which isn't for sale
Speaks in volumes for you and me
To not place judgement in what we "THINK" we see

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