Homeless

The rain was pouring, thunder in the distance Her tattered coat offered no resistance I saw her walking, soaking wet Filled with anger and regret Cast aside from all she’s known Living in a cardboard home I had to know what caused her fate What filled her heart with all this hate I stopped the car and called her near She looked at me with eyes of fear I said, “I’d like to chat with you” She said, “chatting’s all we’ll do” She climbed inside, we drove away Stopped at a coffee shop along the way I asked what had happened in her life Why she wasn’t someone’s wife She said, “I was, I had it all Husband, kids, shopped at the mall But we lost our love, I began to stray He took the kids and went away” “I had no skills, never went to school Looking back now, I was such a fool Pretty soon, the house was gone I was out on the street and all alone” “Husband told the kids I was nothing but trash So, I guess my family’s all in the past Now, I wander around, stop at the kitchen They give me some food and listen to my bitchin” “They think I’m crazy and that’s okay If they were in my shoes, they wouldn’t last a day It’s a hard life out here, you get beat up and spit on But sometimes, someone will toss you a bone” “And they’ll tell you not to spend it all on booze Hell, a drink or some food - it’s not hard to choose You get used to eating the dumpster food But when you get a buck or two, hot food’s so good” I had bought her the special, she was eating it slow Didn’t want to go out in the rain, I know We talked a while longer, then I had to leave I handed her a twenty, she tucked it in her sleeve I asked the manager if she could stay for a while He looked at her and gave me a smile He said she could stay till the rain let up And he walked over to fill up her coffee cup I was walking past her, she grabbed my hand She said, “It doesn’t take much to get where I am It could just as easily be you sitting here” I walked away fighting back a tear It’s true what she said, just a paycheck away A bad set of circumstances on any given day Now I look at the homeless a whole different way I don’t pass them by with nothing to say I look in their eyes and I see their pain I do what I can to help them regain A little of the dignity, lost to the world Before their life had become unfurled.