A Luxury Anyone Can Afford And Priceless

There are times in our lives We see something others don't see Or don't want to see. Many years ago I was sat in a park enjoying the warm weather. The birds were chirping The trees and grass were pleasing green People smiled at me as they casually walked by Suddenly I was aware of someone in the corner of my eye I turn towards the person And saw an old bedraggled man From his worn clothes and some carry bags By his side He had grey stringy matted unkempt hair And wore an old long Black Donkey jacket That had seen better days His Black trousers were just a bit too baggy His worn laced up wrinkled shoes Told a story the man whoever he was Was a well traveled man On one shoe his toes peeped out Like a gapping fish He was there to rest his bones And like myself enjoy the day I didn't want to stare So I had the occasional glimpse or two in a while I noticed he was a smoker from the tar stains on his fingers, as he just sat in contemplation. He suddenly raised his head up towards the smiling sun He closed his baggy Tired eyes. His face now bathed in sunlight Illuminating his face, highlighting every line on his face. With, his eyes still closed. Suddenly hinted a smile. It started me thinking. This man had nothing in the world Apart from his clothes and the contents, of his carry bags Probably hadn't much money. But this was something money can't buy Sitting there, he looked like the richest man in the world He now on this pleasant summer day had a luxury even he could afford, and it was free. Then he opened his eyes Reaching for his pocket pulling out a crumpled cigarette packet He lit it up, and took a long tbreath in. The park was getting busy. I searched my pockets for some change to give him, but he'd left the bench. I didn't see where he went, because of the crowds, all that was left was a discarded smouldering spent tab of a cigarette.