The Ghost Of Christmas Present

Hours before his frozen, lifeless body
was found underneath a bridge on Christmas eve,
He told a friend
he was fed up with life
on the streets.
He was cold.
He was tired.
He was ready to change his life.
But, it was to late.
The middle-aged veteran
was found dead,
wearing just a light jacket
no hat or gloves.
It looked like he fell asleep
and froze to death.
He was frozen solid.
He was not
your typical homeless person
who felt society
owed him something.
He was just on hard times
and didn't know
how to deal with things.
He died
a block
from a shelter.