I saw a man

It was 7:45.  65 on the highway, exit 7 and I stop.  I saw a man standing on this same spot holding up a sign the other day "will work for food".  Just trying to make it by for another day.  Could have been anyone in his previous life, before whatever happened...happened.  For sure he's down on his luck.  Did he deserve it?  Maybe it was meant to be.  He could be the nicest man you'd ever meet or the biggest jerk in the world.  Either way, down on his luck.  You can't help but wonder.  Lost his job at the factory.  Let go on Wall Street.  Stop and say hello, throw a dollar or two?  Try to look busy until the traffic light turns green.  You're off and back to what you do.  Every now and again you look back and see someone do what you couldn't.

I saw a man.

Today he's not there.  No sign, no ruffed up dirty shirt and overcoat.  No missing teeth.  No one to wonder about.  No one to avoid eye contact with.  Maybe he made it.  Maybe he didn't.  You put in your time it's late you're tired but nice and warm on this unseasonably cold afternoon.  You wonder what it's like to sleep on the curb when it's 25 degrees.

I saw a man.

Pulling into the driveway of your manicured lawn, sprinklers were meant to be shut off last night.  The driveways' a mess with toys and bikes.  The things we must worry about.  Open the door, give your wife and daughter a kiss.  Your wife got home early, put a fire on and cooked a nice meal, a little cottage pie.  My favorite.  New York Nightly News announcement: "Homeless man down on his luck gets the break he has been waiting for!"

I saw a man.

Can't be so I turn.  Standing with his sign, his ruffed up dirty shirt and overcoat.  Missing teeth smiling from ear to eat.  Now all eyes on him.  Maybe he'll make it.  Maybe he won't.  No more of a need to wonder or even worry.  Just to think.  What would I have done.  How would I have survived.  What would have pulled me into the next day.  Could have been that one person.  That one kind soul.  That one believer that took a chance and bought him a sandwich and a coffee and a $1 ticket to freedom.

I saw a man.