AFTER

Since this Homeless man left

Afghanistan long lean

years ago he

steps softly on the wrong

side of sidewalk’s

downtown busy place

where white

concrete is dizzying

and a ricochet of light

stains his eyes.

Sore foot –

a spur on the heel this time

says doc. Broken man of the streets

winces with each push of flesh--

suupperrrr a familiar voice.

Coming momma--

and he shuffles towards what used

to be home somewhere near

Oak and Birch Street.

Each time he hears her voice

in his head he returns to

that little boy who loved her so.

Today is like a grocery

list: get up from his late-time snooze

traffic kept him awake again

cleans teeth with a dirty finger

check out an all-night donut shop  

couple left over

for a snack – and now what?

(c) 2018 Richard L. Provencher