We are all God's creatures, in a world all alone no matter how many applications are on your iphone.

The homeless are now referencing your trappings of affluence, throwing tiny little darts at you tipped with classist barbs. Sweet.

"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to disturb your ride. My name is Philip and I'm homeless. I'd like to ask for your help and any food or change you might have is appreciated. An apple, a nickle, or just a kind thought. God bless you and your family. I'd like to read you a poem I wrote."

Phillip started reciting his poem on the 2 train downtown, after getting on at 125th st. I swear I heard him reference "iphone applications". When he was finished and walked by me, I asked him, "Excuse me, did you reference iphone applications in that poem?"

"Yes I did."

"Hmm. That was tight."

"Thanks."

I watched him as he moved through the cars and exited at 42nd St. I left the train too. I considered asking him if I could video tape him reciting it, but then thought better of that. A copy on paper is all I need. I caught up to him and called his name. He turned around and I asked him if he wanted to go have something to eat. We walked around for a while and talked about being homeless and doing drugs and living in Long Island. We talked about him mom and dad and living in a shelter that sucks because people lie cheat and steal. He used to have an mp3 player too, but someone at the shelter swiped it. We stopped at a Burger King near 34th St and ate.

I asked Phillip if he would write the poem out for me, and told him I would be reproducing it online somewhere. So he did, and it's below.

"Try to look at the world through another person's eyes. As a loved one passes on, a newborn baby cries. In a world filled with war and nations torn apart, wouldn't life be better if we spoke through our hearts? Brothers and sisters and fathers killing sons. When you tally the losses can war ever be one. It's not about color and not about race. It's not important who's popular on YouTube or Myspace for we are all God's creatures, in a world all alone no matter how many applications are on your iphone. So I ask you now to turn down your mp3 and think for a moment, what if it happened to me?"

Fwiw, I like to remember that we're all gonna be dead soon, a few decades maybe. So like, might as well do something now while you can and buy some dude a hamburger. Or not, whatever.