The Cold Within

Six humans trapped by happenstance
in black and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood,
Or so the story's told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,
the first woman held hers back
For on the faces around the fire
She noticed one was black.

The next man looking 'cross the way
Saw one not of his church
And couldn't bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.

The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.

And the last man of this forlorn group
Did naught except for gain,
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.

The logs held tight in death's stilled hands
Was proof of human sin,
They didn't die from the cold without,
They died from the cold within.

* * * * * * * * * *

  -- written by James Patrick Kinney

James Patrick Kinney, born on March 16, 1923, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and passing on May 29, 1974, was an American poet who left his mark with the powerful poem "The Cold Within," written in the 1960s. Known for its bold message against discrimination and selfishness. The poem paints a stark picture of how these attitudes can lead to our downfall. Though initially turned down by some publishers for being too controversial, "The Cold Within" found its way into the hearts of many through church groups and beyond, sparking conversations about racial discrimination and social injustice. This poem is a testament to empathy, charity, and the chilling impact of human indifference. While "The Cold Within" stands out as his most famous piece, Kinney penned other works that also speak to the human condition, even if they didn't gain the same level of recognition.