This was written following a post on FaceBook about a girl who was homeless because of circumstances which were quite shocking …

They take longer to write than to read them
but for most we just don’t have the time
to repay the hard work and the effort,
these authors of prose and of rhyme.

A book may be full of surprises,
unless we skip to the last page,
but living is harder than reading
whatever our income or age.

And what of those human-life stories
developed in mind, flesh and bone;
crouching by shops and by cafés,
so close, and yet, so alone.

We can’t judge a book by its cover.
We can’t judge a child by its name.
We can’t judge a beggar by looking.
We really can’t judge and lay blame.

Forgive me for not taking interest
in your story and how it began;
let’s finish this chapter together,
I’ll help you however I can.

It may be only a letter,
or just a word in the right place.
A sentence, constructed to help you
with friendship: a blessing and grace.

I pray that the ending is happy,
creative, fulfilling and true.
I pray that your story will make us
take time to serve others like you.

(c) 2017 Graham Oakes

Inspired by Sylvan Mason’s FB post