A Modern Good Samaritan Poem by David Wood

I once heard a story, many years ago,
Of a man who helped a homeless couple
Who lived in a tent and had no dough.
And they were not young and supple,

But of an age where they could easily die.
It was a cold Christmas week with snow,
And the man out walking could hear them cry.
Why were they crying? He wanted to know.

They were running out of camping gas
To heat their tent and cook from. Why?
They were skint, had no money, no brass.
Taking their last can, the gas he will go and buy.

At the camping store, the man, I was told,
Went straight to the manager with a request.
Can you donate some gas? That was bold!
Go get a trolly, he said, and I'll do my best.

Take all the gas off the shelf, fill the trolley!
They both loaded gas canisters in the mans car
Driving back he thought this would make them jolly.
At the tent they beamed and called him a star.

He related this to a vicar who then made a deal.
The vicar would now get the church involved
And buy them food, enough for a Christmas meal.
Their Christmas was now, happily resolved.

We must this Christmas try and remember
The poor, the homeless, will suffer all the more,
Where the frost and cold is throughout December,
So go, buy them something from your local store.