Morning Walk

I took a morning walk to the Park 

Clothed in three layers and a woolen beanie cap 

And there I met an old man 

crouched on a bench 

wearing a thin torn shirt 

His teeth chattering, arms crossed over his chest 

To provide him some warmth 

Guessed must be one of those homeless ones 

I stopped by and gave him my 

hoodie sweatshirt.

He gratefully accepted and pulled it over his head 

Three sizes too big for this 

frail old man 

Further down the tree-lined avenue 

Found a tabby cat curled up in a fetal position, eyes shut 

Must have been abandoned 

by some cruel person

For whatsoever may be the reason 

I covered him with my beanie hat 

Gave him a saucer of milk bought from the chaiwallah nearby 

The feline was on his four legs lapping the milk in delight 

Walking towards the lily pond 

There I found a child wading knee deep bare-bodied

Picking the lotus to sell for a living 

I offered him my sweater to keep him from freezing 

As I walked back home minus two layers of clothes 

I felt light-bodied, light-hearted 

Having shared what was for me surplus

And to others a means of survival.