The Day I Fed a Homeless Man
I walked by a homeless man on the street,
you know the one who had no food to eat-
He gasped for air just for change or bottles to collect,
when the passerby walked on and did neglect,
raggedy clothes worn from his head to his feet.
He had a sign saying “I’m deaf and I’m hungry”,
so I rolled down the window and wanted to see-
I gave him a dollar to buy water from the store,
wishing I had some money to give him more.
I hoped he was nourished from the money from me.
I felt terrible all night and just couldn’t sleep,
so the next morning I awoke with a secret to keep-
I went to the grocery store and bought lunch meat,
hoping his hunger strike I could defeat.
A good deed is all I wanted to give and to reap.
I made sandwiches and packed water and pop,
I filled a huge bag with goodies, I just couldn’t stop-
Zipped up the bag and I was on my merry way,
got in my car and quickly drove away.
I was going to feed a hungry man at his spot.
It was a red light so I got out of the car,
I really didn’t need to walk very far-
I passed along the bag of food to him,
I could see the gratitude inside and within,
I noticed his weary eyes and on his arm a scar.
I knew he was deaf but he whispered, “God bless”,
in a voice I could recognize nonetheless-
His eyes filled with tears and his arms weak,
I felt faint and then with my hands began to speak.
I used sign language to say, “God bless and all the best”.
This happened last summer and it began to turn cold,
he disappeared one day alone with no one to hold-
I heard on the news a homeless man died behind the store,
he was sleeping there at night just like the night before,
and I knew it wasn’t because he was old.
I’ll never know how or why he suddenly died,
but I’ll tell you honest to God, I definitely cried.
I’ll miss those times handing him dollars and food,
and the one time I actually uplifted his mood.
It still leaves me breathless with heartbroken inside.
The Good Samaritan Contest
December 9, 2017
Copyright © Lu Loo | Year Posted 2017
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