by Vivian Imperiale
The tired homeless man
worked his way across traffic lanes
to stand on the divider strip,
hoping that drivers
would open their windows
and hand him change.
Not terribly likely
but he had no other plan
than to stand in the cold,
breathing in fumes,
seeing stern faces
turning away.
He spotted me
standing on the sidewalk
and he smiled.
It melted my heart.
I came and thanked him
for smiling at me.
Then the realization
spread over his face —
despite everything
missing in his life
he did have something
to give someone else.
He had his smile
and it had mattered to me.
Without being asked,
I gave him a dollar.
We both were richer that moment.
