Walk A Mile

Slumped mid life's surrender

In his badly fitting shoes

His cure all brew grasped in his hand

An outline ragged worn and bruised

His baggy coats seen better days

In his pocket peeps a tatty hat

And his side his lone confide

A terrier is sat

He watched the passers by

As they weaved along the street

With bags of excess shopping

Packed with luxury and treat

He seemed to merge into the pavement

As they anxiously, passed him by

And from his stare, forestalling glare

Prompts downward pavement eye

Beneath his shabby shoes

Sit could be cleaner feet

Beyond his skin what lies within

Tide lines, etched in life's defeat

Inside the can he's sipping

An unseen cloak in which he hides

That doubles as a buffer

To slow the lapping of the tides

I caught his feeble gaze

He shouts, is that all you see?

Come and share this can lass

Seems you need it more than me

I was smiling as I sat

To listen to his woe

He fixed his eyes on mine

And began to talk real slow

My dear, I could say

The sky above's my ceiling

This frozen ground below my bed

Talk you out of change

Tangle sentiment in your head

But manners prevent me pitying

The state you're clearly in

Your intervention aimed at me

Won't fill the void you feel within

I sleep soundly on this pavement

As you turn hot inside your quilt

I don't consider others lesser

I am free of social guilt

The differences between us

Are choices that we make

You live your life for value

I live my life awake

I may deserve your pity

You may deem me rather strange

He smiled and from his pocket

Gave a fist of shiny change

lex ?04