We see him everyday
the old man picking up trash
a cane and a plastic bag
the tools of his trade
he works the parking lot
the roadside
the park
picking up what other people
toss out of the window
or throw on the ground
too lazy to take to a trash can
we were curious about the man
so we stopped one day and asked him
what he was doing and why
he said he was not paid
not even a Volunteer
he just did it on his own
his only incentive was
to leave the world a better place
simple as that
as we drove away we smiled
as we watched him in the rear-view
going about his thankless task
making the world a better place
all by himself.