Homeless
I could see melting asphalt singe the souls of his shoes
His belongings in a blue shirt tied to a stick
How long had he walked, why and where from
His eyes were a crusty brown
With eyebrows that danced over grey eyelashes
Clothes disheveled
Draped as if he’d once been a bigger man
A cruel existence
His sign said “will work for food.”
What did he have in mind
The dishes, laundry, the lawn
Curiosity and compassion found me at his side
“May I get you a meal?”
“Yes, I’d be obliged.”
We ate cheeseburgers at McDonald’s
Tentative in speech but he grimaced occasionally
He had been a doctor, sued, lost everything
Family included
There was more but I didn’t press
His skin was a searing red
Eyelids batted, sleep overdue
I left him at McDonald’s with cash and consolations
I, feeling I should have done more
Then knowing I didn’t have to fix everything
But I could water the flowers
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Author:
Katie B. (
Offline) - Published: December 21st, 2025 01:22
- Comment from author about the poem: A woman's desire to help a homeless man.
- Category: Short story
- Views: 12
Offline)
Comments3
So many are homeless in a world where they could all be helped but those in power just do not care about anything but their own wealth.
Andy
A poem of charity extended and the knowledge that one can not fix the plant when the root is damaged but one can momentarily allay the suffering. Well written Katie and so nice for the season
The poem seeks to highlight the humanity of those experiencing homelessness and provoke thought about individual responsibility and the impact of small acts of kindness in a broken system. It emphasizes that while one may not be able to solve all problems, one can contribute positively in small ways.
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