Take a moment to see

the world as he sees—that

homeless man under the bridge,

wearing shades of brown that used to be

another color entirely but,

that was five years ago.

Hair that was his pride,

is matted and he's balding young,

but it doesn't matter because,

he's forgotten his age,

and doesn't remember when someone last said,

"Happy Birthday."

It might not matter to you but,

he would be totally stoked if someone—

anyone really—remembered his birthday and said,

"Happy Birthday" just out of the blue.

He doesn't want anything

(though a little money would be good).

Take a moment to see

the world as he sees—that

homeless man under the bridge,

with no important title to his name,

except those he was called in the past,

and the most precious one brings tears to his eyes.

His life is not his pride,

but he will be proud.

He will own up to his mistakes,

he knows he made them and regrets them.

He would do anything, anything,

to see his daughter again.

He doesn't even need to talk to her.

Just,

needs to see if she's doing alright.

You might not understand,

and even shun him for his actions but,

he has punished himself every waking day and night when

he hears the laughter of children—a family.

He remembers when, five years ago, he belonged to one, too.

He remembers when, five years ago,

he left them.

He left them.

Take a moment to see

the world as he sees—that

homeless man under the bridge,

he is not selfish,

or mean, or a terrible person.

He just lost his way taking a wrong turn.

And the only reason he's still here is because,

he is afraid of going home.

You might not get it at all

when you see him or hear his story but,

he fears his mistakes are too deep to fix.

He fears he has been gone too long and

now, he must always be a homeless man.

Under the bridge, among his cardboard boxes,

he accepts loneliness

but his heart is about to explode because,

he misses his family.

But, he is afraid...of their possible hate.