Photo by Jeannette (The man in the Park)
_______
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.
3 Responses
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.
I’m curious to know where he will go when it gets cold. Do you know of any local shelters?
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