EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE: Murray Coulter originally submitted this poem in 2007. He requested republication.

I had an experience yesterday as I left the crowded store,

I pushed my cart through the slushy snow as the rain began to pour.

As I fumbled for my keys, 鈥淪ilent Night鈥� running through my head.

I caught a glimpse of a homeless man, lying on a cardboard bed.

I put my groceries in my car and was going to drive away

But thought I鈥檇 better check first, just to see if he鈥檚 okay.

I walked to him holding my coat to keep out the rain and snow,

Then bent down beside him, his breathing was quite slow.

At first he didn鈥檛 say a word, his fingers were so cold.

I rubbed his fingers and his hand, and saw he was quite old.

I thought I鈥檇 say a prayer for him and slowly he did stir.

He looked up from his bed and said; 鈥渢hank you, kind sir.鈥�

His eyes were tearful, kind and gentle, not what I had expected.

He said, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e first to talk to me, I鈥檓 usually just rejected.鈥�

Could you spare a coffee, and a blanket to shed the snow?鈥�

I gave some change, and asked him home. But he said, 鈥渘o.鈥�

I said, 鈥淕ood bye鈥� and went to get a blanket for the homeless man.

Then I returned, gave what I had, and took him by the hand.

鈥淲hat is your name?鈥� I asked him; 鈥淛esus鈥� answered He.

鈥淎s much as you鈥檝e done to the least of these, you鈥檝e done it unto me.鈥�

Murray Coulter,

Courtenay