He Gathered Cans Poem by Bob Gibson

He pushed his trolley around the mall
It was full, a good nights haul
Aluminum cans of every kind
Each one he crushed, another find!

Off to the merchant, scrap to sell
Its Friday night he did do well
Beer cans cast aside
By drunken youths that have no pride

$20 he'll eat well today
$10 for a bed he'll pay
Vincent St Paul's, the Sally shop
The clothing bin, is the next stop

He sits in the mall, there's people there
They just walk past, none of them care
Its warm, its dry its a place to go!
The doors will be locked soon! back in the snow!

A flagon of wine in a brown paper bag
The embankment tonight a bed he will flag
His army greatcoat with its collar turned up
He raised the bottle and takes a sup

Glue sniffers arrive, high on drugs
Yesterdays children, are today's thugs
They beat the old man an stole his grog
And left him bleeding like a dog