Two New Friends (True Story)

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Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2001-03-21 05:55 PM

~~ Two New Friends ~~

~* A True Story *~

He lives down by the railroad tracks.
An old cement drain is his home.
He had a buddy, Max the cat,
So I'm glad he doesn’t live alone.

The winter cold was coming in,
And his shoes were wearing thin,
His belongs he pushes in a shopping cart,
Yes, his whole life was kept within.

Many of his friends have died,
In winters such as this,
He prayed that he would be spared,
Each time he crawled into his abyss.

I met him in the grocery store,
Trying to cash in cans for some money.
I watched as people avoided him
And whispered he looked “funny”.

In his efforts to empty out his bags,
He dropped a canvas bag down on the mat,
I rushed to help him in his plight,
It turned out to be Max, the cat.

He said Max went everywhere with him,
He was sort of his lucky charm
And besides he said with Max here,
His chest kept nice and warm.

He thanked me for helping him,
Got his money and went to shop,
He said was looking forward to,
Buying him and Max a pork chop.

On the way out I noticed him,
He was struggling to juggle his load,
Oh well, I thought as I approached him,
He had said he just lives down the road.

I offered to walk home with him,
As after all it was on my way,
He smiled at me, handed me Max,
And that’s how we became friends that day.

As I petted Max, he said, “Hey don’t worry
Max is always fed, where I live there are,
Many four legged critters around”,
I felt really squeamish inside,
But I didn’t utter a sound.

I’m telling you this story so you’ll know
Don’t always judge a book by its cover,
Because as we shared a Starbuck’s together
I learned a lot from this fellow poetry lover.

And how sad a tale he told of his past,
He had lost everything in a terrible lawsuit,
I knew that he was educated, as we talked,
Because all his answers were so astute.

He had lost his family, his practice, his dignity,
And now lived in a stinky, cement drain,
He said he managed fine though,
And this pipe kept out the rain.

I don’t know how long we talked about life,
His knowledge was amazing; I didn’t want it to end.
And if I had ignored his homeless man,
I would have lost making a wonderful friend.

Hiding my sorrow, I dried tears from my eyes.
I offered him what money I had.
He would not take it but asked could I,
Come talk again, I said, "I would be proud!"

I said, "would you like anything, anything at all?"
He thought about it a minute and said,
"Max could sure use a blanket because
His sleeping side is next to the wall."

Well, I will take him his blanket,
And more, and of course some food for Max,
I learned many lessons today from my new,
Friend, and his cat down by the railroad tracks.

*Note: this is a true story - but this poor fellow has since departed this plain, and Max is living with a new friend.

~*~A poet is someone who reads more than they write ~*~

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2001-03-21 05:59 PM

Amazing where we find our friends....well done Mysteria....

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

2 posted 2001-03-21 07:09 PM

Sunshine: Thanks for reading this.
This man was a doctor that made a huge mistake...and paid dearly for it. I will always be happy that I knew this man he taught me a lot about life in a short time. And Max...well Max is really happy in his new home; has a cat bed and all the fixings!

helen smith
Member

since 2001-03-12

Posts 240

3 posted 2001-03-21 08:39 PM

thank you ..Mysteria I meet lots of people just like your friend ...i call them angels ...you done good

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

4 posted 2001-03-21 09:58 PM

Astounding, isn't it? Every homeless person comes with a story to tell... this is quite a unique one... nicely done..

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

5 posted 2001-03-21 10:18 PM

Helen ~*~ I am glad you meet them...they just want some respect, but the last thing they should be given is money (that John told me in his words...it is a temporary bandaid for a cut that won't stop bleeding! Thanks for reading

Nan ~*~ He was really interesting to be around that is for sure, sorry he died on me actually! Thanks for reading.

Katherine Chandler
Member

since 2001-03-07

Posts 280
Florida, USA

6 posted 2001-03-22 04:31 PM

Wonderful message here hon, 'tis not good to judge a person by their looks. One never knows when they too will be judged. Regardless of his attire, what you saw was his heart. I really enjoyed this uplifting story Sharon.

Kate

Blessings always

Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.
T S Eliot

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

7 posted 2001-03-22 08:18 PM

I'm so glad you shared this story here, Sharon...and in such a wonderful poem...It's nice to know there are people like you, with heart.

Bill Charles
Member Patricius

since 2000-07-11

Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now

8 posted 2001-03-22 08:40 PM

Mysteria - this is so very touching. A beautiful story about he, and Max the cat.

BC

Jellybean King
Member

since 2001-03-07

Posts 153
Jelly, Bean

9 posted 2001-03-23 10:11 AM

OMG...this is great! ....isn't it true that real life is more interesting than fiction? What a splendid soul you have, Sharon...a true poet's soul to see beyond the surface, to know a person for what they are, and not how they look...to reach out to a fellow poet/human in need...truely courageous, and a reflection on how centered you must be...Admirations...

Jellybean King

Mabel A. Dilley
Senior Member

since 2001-03-17

Posts 859
Seattle, WA, USA

10 posted 2001-03-23 10:32 AM

As in real life, you paint so very well.

"I am not now that which I have been."

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

11 posted 2001-03-23 09:56 PM

Kate: You know me...I could care less about status but how I am treated; if you need help, and if I trust you. He looked like he needed a hand like anyone else, and meeting him was my gift, another lesson of life.

Martie: Thank you - I like to think I can look at myself in my mirror every morning.

Bill: His name was John, I should have said that as it is important, and thank you for unintentionally mentioning that. Thank you for reading my poem.

Jellbean King: You my dear man, are also in the centre of exactly the place I am, and thank you for your compassion showing!

Julian: Thank you - I shall paint him! - never even thought about that - and Max is close by so I can look at that mangy cat and paint him into the picture. Great idea! I will donate it to Harvest House...you are a sweetheart, never thought about making him remembered that way. Oh yes, thanks for reading! he he

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~*~ Two New Friends ~*~

~~ Two New Friends ~~