Homeless
I could see melting asphalt singe the souls of his shoes
His belongings in a blue shirt tied to a stick
How long had he walked, why and where from
His eyes were a crusty brown
With eyebrows that danced over grey eyelashes
Clothes disheveled
Draped as if he’d once been a bigger man
A cruel existence
His sign said “will work for food.”
What did he have in mind
The dishes, laundry, the lawn
Curiosity and compassion found me at his side
“May I get you a meal?”
“Yes, I’d be obliged.”
We ate cheeseburgers at McDonald’s
Tentative in speech but he grimaced occasionally
He had been a doctor, sued, lost everything
Family included
There was more but I didn’t press
His skin was a searing red
Eyelids batted, sleep overdue
I left him at McDonald’s with cash and consolations
I, feeling I should have done more
Then knowing I didn’t have to fix everything
But I could water the flowers