Homelessness Isn'T Always Hard

it's a good thing
it's summertime

a gentle night breeze
stirs the air above me.

as I stretch out 
just below the stone
wall that encircles
the hallowed ground.

I am surprisingly
comfy with a belly
full of Dunkin Donuts
donated by Gretchen,
who wears the apron.

here is where my 
home is for the next
eleven days and nights.

the turf is soft,
the company quiet.

nobody wants to
sleep in a cemetery,
except me.

doesn't seem to 
bother me. 

the morning dew
will softly awaken me.
as Gretchen pours
another cup of charity.

patrons will leave 
the daily newspaper 
for me to read.

the water and soap
works just fine in
the men's room.

the deodorant from
the drug store dumpster
keeps me from smelling
like the homeless man
that I am.

Duke LaDuke at 
Astro Bowl told me
yesterday that he'd 
start me as a mechanic
on Monday.

the Monday after that
I'll have my own place
and I can send for my
wife and infant son.

this was supposed to 
be hard and in some
ways it was. 

in many ways,
it wasn't so tough.

even enjoyable 
for a spell.

but, eleven days is
plenty to contemplate
the sunrise and birdsongs.

these daily affirmations
can be appreciated just
as well by the salaried man.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2007

Poem

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