I read his obituary today

It was short and belated

He was only 38

Something in his wake has me frustrated

I knew more about him than the post revealed

But I didn’t really know him, did I?

In that small memo his spirit appealed

He was morbidly overweight

Could barely breathe as he walked down the hall

His legs were tree trunks with sap oozing out

His yellow teeth rusty knife blades

He didn’t have the money so he often went without

Without medicine, without care

Without a way

Unsightly in the eyes of so many

One time I clipped his toenails because he asked me to

It seemed the most help I could be

He couldn’t reach them

And he was so thankful

He had no friend

I prescribed his insulin

Sometimes Percocet

An anti-depressant

Was this considered a life well-spent?

Or something his mother wanted to forget

The walls were closing in

He was about to lose his home

He was stressed

Hope wearing thin

His water was turned off

His blood sugar rose

And he began to cough

His spirits sank deeper

We talked on the phone one last time

He was alone

I always thought he was really kind

Now in his absence he’s on my mind

Justice screams

Because one unwanted died

He didn’t have access

Did anyone try?

I was there in his path

I know now it’s past

Surely Jesus was there in the seams

Weeping and calling unto him – the least of these

Between myself

And this man who had nothing

Surely You saw

The kingdom is his

Lord help me make amends

Break my heart, Jesus

Like Yours

I pray for grace and wisdom

So I can serve