Outside Looking In Poem by John Yaws

All the luscious fragrances tend to fill the room-
Lights so bright and cheerful chase away the gloom,
Tree bedecked in tinsel, to children, oh, so dear!
It is the Christmas season, a special time of year.

Winds outside the window, presage the coming storm-
Icy lace, upon the panes, of glass, begin to form-
Families come together, and all their closest friends,
Alas, some people have none, I was outside looking in

The place was Llano, Texas, nearly thirty years ago-
I was a drifting cowboy, a long ways from my home.
Christmas Eve spent drinking, to drive away the pain
That comes from someone knowing, that he can't go home again.

Silent Christmas morning, empty city streets-
A cold, blue Texas norther; the first thing I did meet,
No place to buy a coffee, no face to call a friend,
Another faceless drifter, I was outside looking in.

A service station restroom, to get out of the cold-
Aches from recent broken bones said I was growing old.
A man of Mexican descent, then took me by surprise-
He said, "Fren', you look hungry", there was pity in his eyes.

His home was nothing special, and wasn't very clean-
He took me in and fed me, just like I was a king-
I'll not forget his kindness, on that you may depend-
A friend is highly treasured when you're outside looking in.