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The Man in the Park

Photo by Jeannette (The man in the Park)

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Day after day I see him there….

That figure, sitting/sleeping in the park.  His

Posture diminished.  Surrounded

By his “things” –  comfort items

I see him with too many clothes on

August days much too hot, 90’s sometimes

100 degrees – although the heat

Never seems to bother him

I wonder if he’s there all night

Or whether he walks the streets all night

and just settles in when the sun comes up

I wonder how he eats during the day,

I wonder about his family, the things

And people he has lost along the way

Does anyone care about him or is he

Truly lost to the world – disappearing

Into the collage of trivia, nonexistent

To most

Does anyone look for him or have they….

much like him……

Given up.

I wonder if I’m the only one that sees him there

Day after day.

Each day I pass, he’s always sleeping

As if the daylight hours bring comfort,

a time of rest, some sort of protection and safety

from the terrors of the night.

Each day he seems to slouch a little more.

I wonder if he ever dreams…….

I want to go over and give him something

To eat although in my haste to get out in

The mornings I forget about him until

I’m almost at that spot – his spot there

In the park.

Each morning I’m compelled to look over

Silently hoping that maybe today he won’t

Be there.  Silently hoping that maybe

As I steal a glance, that someone will be

Sitting with him – just so he won’t feel so alone –

So isolated – so disconnected from life.

I want to somehow let him know that I see him –

he’s NOT invisible.

My soul weeps – not just for him, but for all

Those who have no place to go – for all

Those who life has chewed up and spit out

Crushing their very existence.

“All the lonely people, where do they all come from?

All the lonely people, where do they all belong?”

Each day I drive pass I say “tomorrow I’ll

Bring him something to eat” but……….

Tomorrow never comes.

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3 Responses

  1. Wow… sad but true. There are some people that we speak to on a daily basis (my co-worker) and are experiencing this type of “disconnect”. Will keep “The man in the park” and many others like him lifted in prayer.

  2. Unfortunately this is a real reality of just how easily This can happen to anyone at anytime. Who knows how this man in the park was living, what happened to put him in this situation. We should all be thankful that we are not there. This also shows we can’t judge a book by its cover. I am thankful each and everyday and pray for those less fortunate. Blessings

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