he was hungry

His right pant leg was ripped up to the thigh, and the first thing I noticed as I approached him was his bleeding leg. It was 6:24 this morning, and he was hungry.

For several minutes this man--more bones than flesh and blood--stood with his arm in the city garbage can, feeling his way around for something to eat. Within 200 feet there were restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, and convenience stores, all of which were open and providing food and breakfast to the customers who came and went. They, too, were hungry.

As I continued on my walk to work, a young man looked up at the dawn sky, inhaled deeply, and with a broad smile said, "It's a beautiful day!"








-Todd Madigan