Sharing Food With a Stranger

a poem about this homeless man who sat outside mcdonalds when i was a kid. (i used to split my happy meal with him haha)

"Don't talk to him, sweetie."

that's what you said to me.

5 years old, only a squirt,

but something about that man was hurt.

You always told me to help those who needed it,

but why did you tel me to ignore this?

You told me no,

but I was stubborn.

so you walked me outside,

and my little legs brought me down,

you started to frown.

By the time my face was level with his,

I showed him my hands and said, 
"Do you want this?"

I saved him some food from my cheap happy meal,

he looked at me for a moment,

but then he smiled. 
"Thank you very much, little one."

My mom brought me to that place every week,

and each time there was food I refused to eat.

I always brought it out to the homeless man,

and he smiled and laughed as he took the food from my hand.

sometimes you let me talk for a moment or two,

but not often.

when the skies were grey, or blue,

I felt like I made an unspoken promise to him.

I remember how he lived,

and you told me about it,

how he must've done it to himself.

even so I brought him food, and a smile in hell.

big city streets,

he was probably so lonely.

despite how bad he lived,

whenever we left,

our homeless friend waved goodbye,

smiled,

and said....

"May God bless you."

Author's Note

i'm not exactly sure what inspired me to write this, but, i wrote it. also its 100% true. I did this when i was young and lived in the city. I dunno why, but i remember this! any criticism is appreciated! ^_^

Reviews

[cody mclaughlin]

So far #1 in the contest