There was once an old man <br />He was walking around the shopping <br />center <br />I walked past and he held out his <br />hand <br />And the day was cold, in the dead <br />of winter <br /> <br />I smiled, then shook his hand and <br />said 'How are you today' <br />He smiled back and said'It's cold <br />and wet, but i'm okay' <br /> <br />His hair was long and his clothes <br />were worn <br />But he didn't seem to care that <br />his shoes were torn <br /> <br />I knew he was homeless <br />When i saw his red wagon <br />Then he told me he made his own <br />list of things he wanted <br />But there was nothin he was lackin <br /> <br />He had a few books <br />And some papers and things <br />Rough with leather skin is how he <br />looked <br />But i noticed he had a nice voice <br />when he started to sing <br /> <br />I asked if he needed help <br />And he said 'no thankyou mam' <br />And when i tried to place money in <br />his hand, i felt <br />The dry sun-beaten skin that was <br />rugged and tan <br /> <br />He said'no thankyou again' <br />Then whispered softly <br />But i would like to be friends <br />And maybe have a cup of coffee <br /> <br />I smiled and said 'i think that <br />would be nice' <br />Then we drank a cup of coffee <br />As he began to tell me about his <br />life <br /> <br />I then realized, he just wanted <br />someone to listen <br />To the stories of his long and <br />forgotten past <br />And in that day, i received an ear <br />full of wisdom <br />Then i turned and walked away, and <br />he shouted, remember'life's too short <br />to live too fast'!<br /><br />Katherine Perry<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/life-s-too-short-to-live-too-fast/
