Sidewalk Encounter

--A light mister? tosses boldly
in my direction, cig
dangling from bruised lips.

--I don’t smoke.’

--Quarter for a cup of coffee then?
he insists.

--Where do you get coffee for a quarter?

Sees my hard stare, me dressed
in nice trousers, real-leather jacket

wife clutching my arm,
his slept-in clothes probably
second hand.

--Still standing here bud, looking
at your face.

As thoughts scramble, nerves begin
back flips on my right leg.

--Don’t give me no lecture either, green
teeth & hair awry
says close to my breath.

Staring each other down
we decide to step back from the edge,
eager to be on our separate ways.

© Richard L. Provencher