Warmed with soft rays that glitter of gold,
The longer his days with eyes that grow old.
He wakes to the shadows of dawn’s early light,
Escaped from the cold to the city’s dark night.
Life on this bench seen alone in the park
Moves him to find a new home before dark.
Sunrise cast over, light images of gray,
He’ll bask in the hope to live another day.
I thought of the Samaritan who knelt for the stranger,
But felt helpless, like this was the manger.
Jesus sends God’s love from a wounded knee.
This all seemed so sudden, too inconvenient for me.
The easy thing to do is pray for this man,
And prayers might inspire me to lend a helping hand.
Was this my moment, a chance to do what’s right?
Or was this just two passing ships, drifting out of sight?
The moment to decide cuts like a knife.
Our Lord hides in these shadows
These shadows of life.
Michael Carlton is a Catholic author and speaker living in Atlanta, Georgia, who has a special interest in Catholic poetry. He has been published in Blessings of Time, the International Library of Poetry, Legatus, and My Daily Word. He has also appeared on EWTN, both on The Journey Home and Catholics Come Home programs, as well as on Sacred Heart Radio and Deep in Scripture.