Charley's Picture

(Larry Kingston - Frank Dycus)



A wino we called Charley had a picture

That he wore around his neck upon a chain

But you couldn't see the face in Charley's picture

Just long brown hair and a poem in the frame.



We tried and tried to see old Charley's picture

But we couldn't even tempt him with the wine

His shaking hands would tightly grip the picture

And he'd recite the poem one more time.



You grace this frame, the picture of affection

While I'm the perfect picture of disgrace

And upon your name I'll swear until I'm worthy

I forbid my eyes to look upon your face.



Old Charley froze to death one Sunday morning

We found him and I guess you know the rest

Someone removed the poem from his picture

And the chilling truth lay framed upon his chest.



As I knelt beside his body the picture

Lay there before my anxious eyes

And with trembling lips I whispered the words of Charley's poem

As I stared into the face of Jesus Christ.



You grace this frame, the picture of affection

While I'm the perfect picture of disgrace

And upon your name I'll swear until I'm worthy

I forbid my eyes to look upon your face...