street song

dressed in work clothes he gets out of his car

in the Safeway parking lot 

holding a can of something

beans or soup? 

it was a long day at work

i just walked 2.5 miles home

thru downtown/midtown

my old muscles & bones feeling it

i pass him as i walk across the lot

excuse me, i say, when i pass

no bother, he says, then

hey are you homeless, he asked me

no

are you a teacher, he followed

i chuckled, no, perhaps i have that look

ok, you take care of yourself, he concluded

still with his can of soup or beans

in his hands standing

outside the entrance of Safeway

hope against hope married to the futility & beauty of living