The Old Man And The Smiling Boy

He sat alone on the street,
His eyes downcast, he did not speak.
The busy shoppers hurried by,
Not seeing the old man with tearful eye.

Wrinkles of age covered hand and face,
His body bent with no form of grace.
Ragged and torn were the clothes he wore,
And they passed him by to another store.

He felt alone in that selfish throng,
Was weary of breath and had no song.
He shivered there in the cold of the clime,
His overcoat threadbare from time.

Then a beautiful person came his way,
Stopped for a moment to smile and say,
"Sir, may I help you in out of the cold?"
For he saw he was wrinkled, tired and old.

The old man's eyes lit up with joy
As he looked up at the smiling boy.
Extending his hand, he flashed a grin
To the thoughtful person who'd noticed him.

How many lives could be brightened each day
If we stopped for a moment on our busy way
To offer a hand to those who are down,
And a cheerful smile instead of a frown?

Copyright © 1972 Ruth Gillis

This poem (with the title "A Smile") was previously published
in the January 1995 issue of The Inspirational Poet.