Gratitude Poem by Leonard Dabydeen

In the beginning I thought it was more of a habit

for him to come to this chosen spot, like the full moon

peeping out of the grey clouds and shining through

my latticed window at 10 o’clock in the night.

I had passed through this much-travelled street

the night before and commented to my mind

about the LCBO café so close to St. Michael’s hospital.

He was not there. How must I know if time was of

any significance for him?

Tonight I stayed a little longer at the crossing, waiting

for the count- down of the stop light. He was there, spreading

sheets of corrugated cardboard on the side-walk canopy,

getting ready for a night-cap. And on his right side he kept

a little cardboard box guarded as if it were more than

what his life was worth.

I went over to him and asked, Are you hungry?

He looked me in the eye, but I could not tell if he

had written a smile on his bearded face. Sound was stifled

like clouds in the sky.

I handed him the paper lunch bag with sandwiches I was

taking for my patient at the hospital.

And he angled his head in a bow

to offer his gratitude, as he opened the lid of the

cardboard box. Inside the box a little kitten lifted its

head, meowing mournfully in heartfelt thanks also.

And then the old man pointed to a sign written on the

box: Blind and dumb, but not deaf. Thank you.

I smiled to myself, thinking how gratitude has no

particular shape or form. Gratitude is in each of us

to share with the world.