Dear Unhoused Man

Dear unhoused man sitting on my front lawn, 


When you see your mother, 

please tell her I fed you homemade soup.

Warm lentils with vegetables in a porcelain bowl

with a silver spoon.



Tell her I touched your arm

looked into your scabbed grey face

and when our eyes met

you cried with gratitude.


Tell her that under your breath

you whispered

Thank you

and that you put your dishes neatly on my front stairs,

leaving me a bicycle wheel as a gift.



Tell her that she raised a gentleman.