Homeless Man

I saw a homeless man Begging on O'connell bridge Behind him the dark stagnant waters of the Liffey Flowing aimlessly along the quays, All around him a large crowd of people Walking to and fro And somewhere from among the crowd A kind-hearted stranger turned around And walked over to the homeless man, And bending down Looked into his wrinkled weather-beaten face His glazed-over drunken eyes And empty paper cup beside him on the ground, And spoke with warmth and understanding To The homeless man And listened to every word he said And reached out with a kind and generous hand And put some money into the empty paper cup, Then straightening up he turned around And walked away, Disappearing into the memory of that day. W.A CHOLT. Copyright Fergal O Reilly. 2008.