They could say,
they knew what you
were going
through, but they
never do,
and that's okay
because
there's a 99%
chance that
if they knew
they wouldn't be
here.
Instead they
turn away, looking
at the ground
and shield
their toddlers'
eyes.
Your sign,
'No Home, anything
will help.'
Doesn't get you
anything except stares
and pity looks.
In their
minds, the only
reason you're
on the street
begging for
food is because
you never
finished college.
But they
don't know the
whole truth,
they don't know
that the little
money you
got before you
were laid
off was spent
trying to save
your cancer-stricken,
new wife, who
gave up the ghost
long ago.
Sure, most
people don't
end up on the street
the way you
did, but you did
finish college,
and you were never
an alcoholic.
A little
girl asks her
mother, 'Why
is he sitting on
the street by
himself? '
The mother
frowns and turns
the sweet child
away, saying,
'He didn't do
what he was supposed
to.'
By afternoon,
you're ready to curl up
and die under some
tree, just like
thousands of others.
But then you
see a red haired
girl and her
blond brother,
both over eleven,
maybe twins,
except the girl
was short
and skinny,
covered in freckles
and the boy
is more mature.
The girl stops
by the sign
and supervises
as her brother
shakes your
cold hand, he
nods, then walks off.
Enclosed in
your hand is a
twenty dollar
bill.
You will have
lunch!
But the twins are gone.
Anna Bishop
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/anything-will-help/
