There was once an old man br He was walking around the shopping br center br I walked past and he held out his br hand br And the day was cold, in the dead br of winter br br I smiled, then shook his hand and br said 'How are you today' br He smiled back and said'It's cold br and wet, but i'm okay' br br His hair was long and his clothes br were worn br But he didn't seem to care that br his shoes were torn br br I knew he was homeless br When i saw his red wagon br Then he told me he made his own br list of things he wanted br But there was nothin he was lackin br br He had a few books br And some papers and things br Rough with leather skin is how he br looked br But i noticed he had a nice voice br when he started to sing br br I asked if he needed help br And he said 'no thankyou mam' br And when i tried to place money in br his hand, i felt br The dry sun-beaten skin that was br rugged and tan br br He said'no thankyou again' br Then whispered softly br But i would like to be friends br And maybe have a cup of coffee br br I smiled and said 'i think that br would be nice' br Then we drank a cup of coffee br As he began to tell me about his br life br br I then realized, he just wanted br someone to listen br To the stories of his long and br forgotten past br And in that day, i received an ear br full of wisdom br Then i turned and walked away, and br he shouted, remember'life's too short br to live too fast'!br br Katherine Perrybr br