A few weeks ago, while walking down a busy sidewalk in St. Louis, I came upon a man, dressed in dirty, ragged clothing, sitting on the sidewalk leaning against a store front. A small bundle of clothing lay next to him along with a large tin cup which contained a few coins.

Although the temperature was in the upper thirties, he was scantily clad and his coat was thin and ragged. He was not an old man, probably in his late thirties but he looked sick and emaciated.

Unfortunately this is not an unusual sight in America today, especially in the larger cities, and it would be futile trying to help every one of them on a personal basis but, for some reason, this man touched my heart. I put several dollars in his cup and walked on but this encounter left me wondering who this man was and how he came to be this human derelict at such a young age.

I couldn't get this man out of my mind and that is what prompted me to write the poem. It's a reminder to myself that, as a human being, I am obligated to help my fellow man when they are in need and it is within my power to do so.