Don't Walk On By

A beggar on a corner, just a bit of human waste
Yet if you would take time to talk you would not leave in haste
Words do slowly come out, these words which tell a story
Yet the sadness of his words leaves neither love nor glory
Once a man of substance who commanded much respect
Now all that has faded as he is desperate to collect
a little money for some food, a blanket to keep him warm
It’s not a lot to ask for as he shivers in the storm
In winter comes the sleet and the ever-deadly snow
Summer brings some heat, yet still nowhere to go
Autumn brings it’s own deluge with the everlasting rain
His bones are slowly crumbling, as his mind does, from the pain
People pass without a glance and ignore him all day long
Yet he doesn’t judge the fact that this world has gone so wrong
No bitterness in his nature, this lonely, long-lost soul
He just wants to believe in some kindness, above all
A crumble of compassion is all he’s asking for
Just a little humanity as he doesn’t want for more
He’s very much resigned to this lonely, dismal fate
And all he really wishes for is kindness and not hate
So when night closes in again, he gives a final yawn
as he struggles into his sleeping bag and prays for another dawn
So please, when you next see him, don’t just walk on by
but stop to think a moment and say a little ‘Hi!’
Ask if he needs anything, just for another day
rather than ignore him, which so often is the way.
For a moment, be that person he so truly hopes to see
because you never know, that person one day could be me.