YOU SEE THEM



you passed him

diverted your eyes

pretended not to see
the man lying in the
doorway of a business

he hadn't bathed in weeks

his foul odor permeating
from his soiled filthy clothes

drenched in his own piss

did it bother you that he slept there last night

as you negotiate the streets in
deliberate avoidance of them

gasping that last bit of breathable air as if nerve gas was descending

did it anger you

that you just may be
forced to see them

and realize that no human being
should live like this

the lady pushing her shopping cart
with everything she owns in it

the man eating out the garbage can
waiting for you to discard
that cigarette, half eaten muffin
and the fourth of cup of coffee
still left in your cup

if you squint hard enough

turn up your walkman
loud enough

read your newspaper
intently enough

you can miss seeing them

the family on 19th street

living under a tent

outside the mission that was too full
last night

because we voted
for a ball park instead of a shelter

you can mask your shame
at passing outstretched hands
asking for change

by discounting their need

mitigating their effort at trying to do better

ignoring the problem that got them there

oh no please don't make us see them!

they are fathers and mothers


brothers and sisters
it's the veteran that risked his life
the physically abused wife

it's that person who's head is filled with voices and the mental
facility didn't give any choices

it's that person so far gone
in hopelessness
feeling ashamed and
and so worthless

you have to see them
so that tomorrow when
you are walking down the street

and see the man lying
in the doorway

you'll give him

a change of clothes
a bar of soap
a thermos of coffee
a muffin
and some hope


HAVE A BLESSED DAY
LYNN

 
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