His favourite book was a dictionary
I can’t say I really knew why
He’d turn over pages one at a time
With each turn he let out a sigh.

Sometimes his thoughts were not well-formed
But in managing he always did his best
He’d clearly been raised to be happy
As he plainly approached life with some zest.

He lived by himself he once mentioned
His parents having both passed away
And he came to the café with his ‘words book’
Turning just a few pages each day.

Until one day he stopped and stood
I looked up at him towering above
‘What is it my friend that you have now found?’
He pointed at a word saying, ‘I have found love!’

And in that place a nice feeling grew
A warmth between each one of us
It spread through the door right into the street
As the man quietly turned and left without fuss.

But the message was clear from that gentle young man
Who had a name I can never recall
The message was love one another
Or else why are we living at all!

©Joe Wilson – His gentle message…2015