he or she
asleep beneath
a soggy sixty inch
flat screen television box.
a corner of some synthetic
magenta coverlet puddles
over his or her bare feet.
one pale toe peeks out
from the edge.
the moon set gleams
between the red-eyed horns
of Sutro tower.
down the block
the south-of-market wild man screams,
merry christmas, merry christmas
at the bustling passersby
who studiously avoid his eye.
i slipped a ten
to the girl with the lip stud
and the fading shiner
sitting outside the walgreens
with a puppy nestled in her coat.
shock, surprise,
broke across her stony face,
neither of us spoke.
when the signal changed
from the red man to the green,
i looked back to where she sat.
she gave me a private smile
and shyly waved good bye.
It's amazing what can take place when one or more visit kindness on another, particularly when it appears it has likely been some time since the recipient has received kindness, except perhaps from the puppy.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what can take place when one or more visit kindness on another, particularly when it appears it has likely been some time since the recipient has received kindness, except perhaps from the puppy.
ReplyDelete