Homeless

                          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