A Homeless Man Named Sam

A true story that happened to me and a wonderful man named "Sam"

A Homeless Man Named Sam

A Poem by LadeeAnne~anne p murray

A true short story/poem of my strange encounter with a very dear, homeless man named Sam.

Hebrews 13:2:  "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

"Authors Note: This is a true short story/poem of my strange encounter with a dear, homeless man named Sam.
This happened in 1992, when I was living in Grass Valley, Ca. These are not actual pictures of Sam, but they remind me of him in so many ways. We should care about people, all people, homeless or otherwise_______________________________________~~~~~~___________________________________________________________

                                                      ***Dedicated to Sam*** ________________________________________________________________________________

He stood alone on the corner of a local, traveled street

In ragged clothes holding a sign standing in the cold or heat

“Anything Helps, God Bless", it says, on his small cardboard sign

"I’d appreciate whatever you give, even a nickel or a dime".

Most all the drivers pass him by seeming not to care

But every time I see him I feel such a need to share

 

I’ve seen him at other places in that same part of town

A place where the homeless go, those that are lonely and down

There’s a shelter down the street a couple of blocks away

It’s called “Open Door Mission” a place where the homeless stay

 

I want to cry when I see this place full of children, women and men

Driving by the Mission on Nicholas Street, I see them picking through dirty, garbage bins

Glad when they find a piece of clothing or joyful for some aluminum cans

Some people think it’s shameful when others are down  or in such paltry jams

 

I think to myself, “How can they feel this way, it could be them or me”!

“Open your eyes”, I want to yell, “Isn’t this the land of the free”?

How far have we come from this ideal, 'Land of the Free, home of the Brave”?

On our holiday the Fourth of July does that saying mean the same today?

After I saw that Mission where all the homeless live

My heart hurt that we as a Nation can’t even a nickel give

 

How brave are we as a Country, but equally important how brave are we as humans beings?

When we see poor, sad, homeless people and we just pretend that they aren’t seen!

Living out of boxes, under bridges, or on some lonely street wheeling grocery carts that hold all they own

Standing in line for a single meal or living in a cardboard box that so many call their home

 

That man on the corner I talked about was standing there just yesterday

All the cars just drove on by never stopping to help or go out of their selfish ways

It was pouring down rain as he stood there alone looking so tired wet and cold

I wondered to myself what would Jesus do for this man who looks so worn out and old?

 

All my friends told me I was careless to have lent this man a hand

But you see I couldn’t help myself he was so broken down that man

I pulled my car over and parked it close off the side of the street

I waved to him and when he came I asked, “Would you like something to eat”?

 

We walked together to the closest restaurant a short block around the corner

People looked strangely when we walked in together but I personally knew the owner

This poor man had worn out shoes, unclean pants and wore an old army jacket with holes

It didn’t bother me to be seen with this man for I could see he had such a broken soul

 

We sat there together in my friend’s café at a small table with two chairs

I asked him if we could talk a little then he began to tell me his despair

I asked him if he’d share his name he told me it was Sam

I looked into those lonely eyes, the eyes of a broken man

He’d had a hard life with lots of worries and many medical bills to pay

It all started he said, when his wife became ill on that sad, spring day in May

 

He tried to keep it all together so she wouldn’t have to worry

She was very sick and frail, then her mind slowly became very blurry

She hung on for her life but over time, her memory slowly began to fade away

“It was such a long, hard time”, he said, “Then an Angel took her home on a warm July day”

 

My heart was breaking as I pensively sat listening to him quietly talk

With tears in our eyes we sat together then I asked if we could go for a walk

“People always pass me by,” he said, “As if I’m not even standing there”

“You’re the only one,” said he, “Who’s taken the time to even show you care”

 

 “I don’t want their sorrow or pity”, he said, “Just some friendly care and love”!

“I lost my wife and my life, when an Angel took her from above”.

“Never a tear in their eyes or a friendly smile, never offering to lend a hand”.

“What if I was an angel?”  he said, “Sent from God and no one lent me their hand”?

         After we left the cafe on that hot day in September

         I found a a tiny emblem of an angel in my jacket pocket...

         Something he must have left for me to remember

 

Let this be a real good lesson to all of us as a test of our brotherly love

You never know if that homeless person is an angel sent from above

I always think this to myself whenever I see a person in need

“Are they an angel unaware looking to me for a helpful deed”?

Stop and listen to the call you hear, the one your heart’s been given

Help those you see, take up their cross, help them while you’re still living

Whenever passing by someone you see in need, try to let go of your greed

Stop, heed your heart, give them a hand and do them a helpful deed

     ~~~~

It’s been three weeks since I’ve seen Sam standing on that street

I've been so worried I stopped and asked many others that I meet

“Has anyone seen that man named Sam, who stands alone on this corner”?

When no one seemed to know, I asked my friend that small café owner

 

He told me that he’d seen Sam just the other day

“It seemed odd”, he said, “But he never even looked my way”

A couple days later, I happened to read a short story in our local news

It told of a homeless man named Sam, where they’d found only his clothes and shoes        

       ~~~~

Three months now, no trace of Sam has ever been found to this very day

I think he was an angel sent from above. I don’t know what else to say!

I hope he’s in Heaven at home with God and his beautiful wife

I believe he was sent to teach a lesson... to share with me his life

       ~~~~

Next time, don’t just walk on by someone, please don’t treat them so unfair

When you pass them, stop... give them a smile and send them a heartfelt prayer

Try to help someone else the best that you possibly can

Always try to remember this isn't where their homeless life began

      ~~~~

            I felt very privileged to have met this man named Sam

            But so saddened by his heartfelt story

            Was he an angel sent from God?

            I don't know...

            I only know I met a very, special man!

_________________________________________________________________________________

                                      ***Dedicated to Sam***

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

Written &Copyright 2011,Anne P Murray, LadeeAnne

This almost makes me wonder if this is the same homeless man named "Sam"

A homeless man named Sam carries the cross during part of the 2007 Good Friday Stations of the Cross walk sponsored by Broadway Christian Parish United Methodist Church in South Bend, Ind.

http://www.gc2004.org/interior.asp?ptid=43&mid=13333

Author's Note

A newer version of this poem

Reviews

[demureminds]

I really love this, the words are so effortless and the story conveys so much meaning. What you did was so nice and a great inspiration for others to do the same. I'm glad to know there are still nice people out there!