He walked with eyes lowered , head to the ground .
When he saw me , he spoke , and I took in his sight .
He was scruffy and raggedy in his eyes was no light .
He said , Maam , Im hungry .
He was very polite .
I said to him softly , No money have I ,
but Ill buy you some food with these food stamps of mine .
We walked on in silence , this homeless old man ,
and he said , Give me your number -
Ill pay your back when I can .
I looked in his eyes , where hopelessness lay ,
and I said , Never mind . I dont want you to pay .
As we walked down the aisles of the grocery store ,
like a child he picked something , then asked for more .
I gladly told him to fill his needs ,
because in my lifetime , Ive done some bad deeds .
Ill never forget him , as he went on his way ,
because he gave me something I can never repay .
He gave me a chance to give what I could ,
a chance to show love to the misunderstood -
a chance to feed someone when no one would -
a chance to be special , a chance to be good .
Ill ever be grateful to the stranger in rags ,
for showing me Love in a few grocery bags ,
for letting me be the one who had more ,
for letting me answer his knock at my door .
You see , Im no angel , though Ive wanted to be .
Ive hurt many people by just being me ,
and this man , this stranger , who did not pass me by ,
set free for an instant an angel to fly .
-Jude Revoli