I once knew this old man

I once knew this old man 
His hair was white as sand
His smile was sweet and golden 
His nose was long and broken 

His beady eyes were yellow 
He was such a jolly fellow 
His hands were ridged and rough 
That old man sure was tough 

Don't mind me, he would say
I'm just trying to see another day 
For these streets are hard as steel 
And are sometimes hard to deal 

I would sometimes give him a dollar or two 
His response was always a quiet "thank you"
It's was a daily routine we would play 
Until they came and took him away 

Quiet and unmoving, there he lay
Tired and confused I had nothing to say 
They pushed his body in the car 
Removing his coat that was black as tar

Still confused I thought he'll be back 
Day after day, I'll check to see if he came  back 
Needless to say I never saw him  again 
And in the deepest part of my heart I hid the pain