She picked up a song and she carried it far to a place where the nights never end

It blustered and blew and it whistled and grew to a symphony just for her friend

A lonely heart waited in silent remorse for a sign that just one someone cared

For the sun never shone for this forlorn old soul who stayed hidden, for everyone stared

At the shriveled old man who just plodded along as the night said hello to the day

On the sidewalk so cold, which just hours ago, was the bed where his head had to lay.

He held out his hand to the hurrying crowd, silent hope one would toss him a dime

He could smell the aroma of coffee so fragrant, how warm it would make him inside.

Instead what he got were those stares that would tell him no way these poor people could know

How it felt to lose all, and the last haunting call of his love, that sad day long ago.

He turned from the crowds of the bustling folk who had no time for one so unkempt

They had such busy lives and could never imagine the pillow on which the man dreamt.

Of days long forgotten, when often he'd dance with the girl who had captured his heart

They laughed and they sang and they oft drank a toast to the wonderful life they would start.

He turned from the slurs and the insults they threw as he struggled to fend off the tears

And returned to the place where the light never shone, neath the bridge all alone with his fears.

He slid himself under the ragged old quilt, that his love made for him way back then,

And the silent hot tears slid down dirty old cheeks as his heart broke all over again.

He'd lost her one day in the spring of the year when the trees were just starting to leaf.

With a sadness so great, his heart died that day too, and he never got over his grief.

Now, she came to him softly, a whisper at first, and gently she reached for his hand.

He pulled her so close and then they were dancing , their symphony wondrous and grand.

They found him days later, a haunting  reminder of those who must struggle to live.

And one of them murmured, he just might have made it, if more of us knew how to give.