Why I did it, I don’t know Tornado of regret tortures my heart On a moonless night, he approached Limping toward me as I pumped gas Why was it fear and not compassion With which I greeted him Surely homeless, he must have slept ‘neath stars Society’s outcasts camp on the beach, Crossing the coastal highway only under night’s cloak Deep lines on his sun-aged skin Bespoke many years, perhaps 70 Dirty clothes tattered, barely covering his thin frame No, I have no spare change No, no, I won’t help you I just wanted him to go away Disappointment filled his eyes He turned and hobbled to a nearby bench When he sat, I was horrified All his possessions lay beside him on the seat An old Army cap he pulled out And placed it on his head He fought for our country And I could not find a few dollars to help As I drove away, I burst into tears Feeling ashamed, disgusted with myself Only two blocks from home, I turned my car around But he had moved on January 13, 2020