The Other Side of Life and Living.....

Man Meets Morning

From under his two old cotton blankets
dressed in rags thin as the newspapers covering him
he emerges slowly into another day
one of longing and dread
wanting the day over before it starts
but knowing it would last until
another night of constantly chilled fitful sleep
Centuries ago he had come to terms
with daytime forcing his hunt for food
through panhandling and stealing
but the night is forever cold and dangerous
when some dope-filled and sleep-crazed guy
might do his best to kill you
not knowing that his old war had long ago ended
Meeting each morning he sets out for the Mission
where hot coffee and forced smiles waited
with three-day-old cold donated donuts
and the panhandling
All could wait until after today's plastic plate of warm scrambled eggs
It was Wednesday and the lady would be by soon
bringing clean used clothes and health food packets
which he sold to buy smokes and a reefer or two
After all a man had to have his cigar
while sipping a shot of brandy
in order to get through the day but hell
he knows there ain't no day worth getting through
if the damn honest-to-God truth be known


2005 F William Broome