JOHN DOE

His unshaven face and crooked smile spoke volumes
From his broken teeth to the holes in his shoes
I could see it in his face
This man had a story

Daily I passed by him
As he sat on the park bench
Newspapers stuffed in his pants and shirt
Backpack sitting next to him

I hurried passed him day by day
Scared to know his story scared I might care
It was so much easier not knowing
What had brought him to this place

He might even ask me for money
If I looked his way to long
I wont contribute to his drunken state
I told myself

Then one frightful day
A man shoved me running past
As he grabbed my purse
I sat on the ground wind knocked out of me

Next thing I know
The man I had feared so
Is picking me up
Asking if I am OK

He leads me to his park bench and sits me down
“Are you OK” he ask me “Can I call someone for you”
This man I had so feared wanting something of me
Was now sitting by my side offering me his aid

“I’m OK” I say tearfully
As he reaches into his backpack and pulls out a very clean handkerchief
I notice a something drop from it as he hands it to me
In disbelief as I wipe my eyes I stare at the purple heart

“The handkerchief is all I have left of her” he says
“She died in child birth while I was overseas”
“I came home to find the bank had taken my house”
“The measly savings I had had been used to bury her”

“No-one would hire a one legged man with a bum ticker”
“They had me so drugged up on morphine I did not know left from right”
“Addicted they decided I was so they cut me off suddenly”
“I lost my mind that day”

My friend is now gone
Having lost his life to the elements
Buried in a paupers grave
No hero’s memorial for him

The marker at his grave says only unknown “John Doe”
I am so thankful for that fateful day
Oh how I wish I had taken the time to know him before it was to late
I have now learned to listen

Reviews

[Renée]

I wouldn't say this is a poem..but this is a marvelous story..So true...There for the Grace of God go I ...I hope all read this.. thank you