On a twisting road behind me <br />Full of stones and pits <br />I spot a lonesome hobo <br />Who looks pensive as he sits <br /> <br />He sits on a clean-shaved stump <br />And opens up his shoe <br />And empties it of dirt <br />While his toe is peeking through <br /> <br />I walk the path back toward him <br />Under a canopy of trees <br />That I've enjoyed so many days <br />When I didn't have miles to seize <br /> <br />His hands were folded in front <br />A dark wool cap pulled his head <br />It looked like he needed a bath <br />And to sleep in a real bed <br /> <br />I towered over this bum <br />Ready for his pleas <br />And felt a little like the Lord on High <br />With people on their knees <br /> <br />I nodded as he spoke <br />Still fastening on his shoe <br />I put my foot on a high, flat rock <br />As if his answers I already knew <br /> <br />'I could have had it made' <br />Like he was winding up the words <br />'If I hadn't taken a wrong turn' <br />And got what he deserved <br /> <br />'And there's my kid back home, <br />With only one road to their house' <br />I almost started to ask him <br />If he had actually had a spouse <br /> <br />I grabbed a leaf before me <br />As the fastened branch snapped back <br />I told him he could follow me <br />If it would help him get on track <br /> <br />Now he was standing up <br />The sun was hazing down <br />He stood before me in silhouette <br />And he seemed to share his frown <br /> <br />'I'm as good as you, ' he said <br />Barely lifting his head <br />'If the road you took looked like mine, <br />you could be me instead' <br /> <br />By his tone he was offended <br />My eyes flipped open wide <br />For as he turned the shadow moved <br />And I was looking in my eyes<br /><br />John Anderson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-hobo-was-offended/
