A homeless poet

First appeared here.

In São Paulo, Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho had spent decades living on the streets, unnoticed by most, yet he had a passion for writing poetry. Despite his circumstances, he filled notebook after notebook with verses that reflected the world around him, though his work was hidden from the world. For years, his words remained locked within the pages, a silent testimony to his creativity and resilience.

Then one day, a woman named Shalla Monteiro crossed his path. She noticed Raimundo sitting on the street, scribbling away in his notebook, and struck up a conversation. It was the beginning of a simple yet profound friendship. Shalla, moved by Raimundo’s talent and spirit, took it upon herself to share his poems on Facebook. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary. The online community, drawn to his words, responded with overwhelming support. Raimundo’s poetry went viral, and suddenly, the world was paying attention to the man who had spent so many years overlooked. The attention led to the publication of his work, but even more unexpectedly, it reunited him with his long-lost family, who had been searching for him for years. Raimundo’s rediscovery wasn’t just a chance for his poems to be shared, it was a rediscovery of the humanity and connection he had long been denied.