teddy bear woman

she walks the streets of the town

pushing a shopping cart,

no doubt stolen from any one of the few stores

that litter the main street---

in the basket of the cart

where a child might stick its legs through

so as to be safe whilst momma goes

picking groceries or other items

throughout said store,

she has placed her teddy bear.

this teddy is shaggy,

torn up from years of being dragged around from

place to place,

the only friend left for this woman

whose mind has been driven

far far away

by those that might find less to do with her

than this teddy

who sits with its legs out

staring without a thought,

glass-eyed but without malice

unlike the rest of us who look on her with

straying clichés of pity &

hopelessness---

and she wanders conversation with herself,

until the teddy says its time to go.