The Greatest Of Gifts. Poem by David Wood

Hunched in a damp doorway
In a bone numbing cold
December morning,
Wrapped in yesterday's news.
An all day breakfast,
A half eaten stale and frozen
Sandwich, his only company.

The street begins to wake up
With hurried footsteps.
Later, other footsteps fight
For Christmas bargains,
By then he will be begging
For another all day breakfast
Perhaps an all day larger too.

Sitting, ice cold crossed legs,
Cold cupped hands extended:
"Any loose change" his only
Conversation he repeats with each
Footstep, but they look away.
The footsteps are all searching for gifts,
Sadly failing to understand the greatest
Gift of all, human kindness.