![](https://www.independent.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/27/ShoppingCartRay1_CourtesyGa.jpg)
a homeless man I passed each week
as he sat on a bench at the harbor
silver shopping cart by his side
piled with life possession
s he always called out greetings
to passing fishermen and tourists
joggers and walkers
a smile on his unshaven face
as he bid me good morning
he isn’t there today
shopping cart gone
stone bench transformed into a memorial
laden with white roses in jelly jars
worn well-loved teddy bears
candles in glass vases
paperback books sodden from morning mist
poignant tributes
to a man finally home