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The
Soup Kitchen
by Pat Montesano
I
don’t know why my speech is slurred
Or
why I can’t pronounce some words
Can’t
hold a job or write my name
Have
no interest in money or fame
I
just do the best I can.
I
know some people laugh at me
They
don’t understand what they see
Sometimes
they point, sometimes they stare
At
my wornout clothes, my shaggy hair
I’m
a different kind of man.
But
there’s a place, each day at noon
They
have for me a shiny spoon
A
pretty dish that holds my bread
A
bowl of soup so that I’m well fed
Where
I’m a happy man.
The
kitchen people call me “friend”
They
always say to come again
They
shake my hand, take time to talk
Don’t
mind that I stumble when I walk
They
know I’m a lonely man.
The
kitchen people welcome me
They
don’t make fun of what they see
They
don’t care ‘bout how much I know
They
don’t even notice my hair or clothes
They
think I’m a special man.
With
trembling hands and eyesight blurred
The
magic of their spoken word
Has
helped me through another day
Given
me hope, a new prayer to pray
“Help
me be a better man.”
I’ve
walked many an icy mile
To
see those daily noontime smiles
To
sip my soup and break my bread
With
friends who care and see that I’m fed
Because
they understand.
These
people know they could be me
We’re
all a part of this mystery
They
know the power of love for friends
That,
as they love me, so do I love them
I’m
the kitchen people’s man.
Published
March 6 1985
The Catholic Herald
Homeless Education Center
National Alliance to End
Homelessness
National Coalition for The Homeless
Care and Share
Catholic Relief
Services
Hungry 4 Change
Family Promise
The
Art of Natural Building
St.
Christopher's Inn
|
A
non for profit organization has mission to feed
America's hungry
|

Central Presbyterian Church
1660 Sherman St. Denver, CO 80203
NewGenesis
NEWGENESIS is a 110-bed homeless shelter for working men, located in the
basement of the church. It provides vocational training, drug and alcohol
counseling and self-help groups. Everything is focused on a single goal: to
help men leave the streets for permanent housing and a new lease on life. The
program's emphasis is a proactive case-management program that leads each
resident to permanent housing and a more productive and independent life.
Volunteer opportunities are designed on an individual basis to fit the gifts
and schedule of the volunteer. Call Shelter Coordinator Mark Wright at
303.831.4910.
centralpres@qwest.net
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