The Throbbing Heart Poem by Antoinette Kopperfield

He stands on a streetcorner
with a cup half-empty,
and coins are tossed to him
like a seal in shallow water,
and he is hungry for another meal.

His eyes of hope catch your glance
if you are looking,
and if turn away
you will never know his pain.

His full-time job is survival.
Though he is dry
and thirsty from the sun,
his legs are tired with no chair,
and though sometimes
he feels like giving up,
he asks again.

I saw his face and his gratitude,
and though my gift was small,
he said 'thank you' and he moved on.
There was another car
with another driver,
and like mine,
his heart was throbbing with compassion.