Poetry Train #80
(I tried to find the right picture for this scene, but I couldn’t find anything that really fit, so I’m skipping the eye candy today. Hope you enjoy the poem.)Grace of God…
He sits huddled in a doorway, ragged coat wrapped tight around him and I can’t help but wonder what brought him to this place at this moment in time. Did he make wrong choices somewhere along the way? Maybe he couldn’t handle what we call normal life anymore, being overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of this wild world.
I approach him and offer my hand. He stares at me with disbelieving eyes and I know others have passed him by, ignoring his dirty shivering form. I smile, trying to seem harmless for I have no reason to hold out my hand to him, except there for the grace of God, I could have been him.
If things had gone different, I could be the one huddled in a doorway, wondering where I would sleep that night or where I could get a warm meal. It could be me wandering the streets, becoming invisible to the people rushing here and there. So I hold out my hand, acknowledging him and making him real for an hour or a day.
He takes my hand and we go to the thrift store. I buy him a new coat, a hat and gloves. I offer him work because I can see his pride will not accept charity. I take him to lunch, making sure he eats his fill and then I order more food for him. Who knows when he’ll get to eat next and I want to make sure he has at least two good meals in him before I let him go.
I ask if he needs assistance to get where he’s going. He tells me he’s fine and that I have given him more than enough. I stand on the sidewalk, watching him shuffle away and I can’t help but wish I could have done more for him. He turns back with a smile like he heard my silent thought.
“You have kept me alive for a day and for that I thank you. I ask no more from you and pray only that I see one more day after this.”
Snow begins to fall and I stand, transfixed as he disappears into the white haze. My vision blurs from the tears in my eyes and I blink. When I look again, he is gone. I have errands to run, so I shake myself and stroll away to finish my day. Each day after that, I watch for the man, but he is gone and I begin to wonder if he really ever existed or was he just a reminder of how thankful I should be for my life. There but for the grace of God…
10 Responses “Poetry Train #80”
Made me tear up as well.
A lovely piece of writing TA.
I never know what to expect on Monday… I only know you NEVER disappoint me!
Jac
Thank you.
Thank You
So fitting and lovely. It made me cry.
A beautiful reminder to be grateful for all that we have.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Hugs
NJ
That was beautiful, TA, simply beautiful. Thank you.
It is so funny that you use that line “but for the grace of God…”
My mother has ALWAYS said that.
This is beautiful TA and fitting for the season.
Loved it.
K~
Thank you for that poem. It reminded me to always take a long look around me and be thankful of what I have.
Hope your Holidays are filled with warm hearts and hot half dressed elves(or elf”C”)passing out candy canes. (snickers!!)
What a wonderful poem and how fitting for this holiday season. It helps us to think that it could be us and how lucky we have it. When I have a bad day or something gets me down I always try to think how lucky I am to have what I have. There are others out there who have nothing, who am I to complain.
Thank you TA and Happy Holiday to you and yours.
Love it.