Just Around the Corner

Corner of Ave C & Houston

Had its resident homeless veteran

Playing harmonica blues,

Reminding me

I had no right to bitch about my plight,

Especially as the old pedestrian of better means

Dug into his pocket for a quarter,

The veteran closing his eyes in a moment of thanks.

Lest I allow this daily scene to depress me,

I continued to the subway,

Stride strong,

Smile engaging,

Emotions hidden.

There was a day when I knelt by my bed,

Cursed God for what seemed like unnecessary suffering,

And for long after

Felt even more alone,

Like a premature widower forever unconsoled.

For seasons,

I continued to pass the homeless

Huddled in doorways,

Beneath overpasses,

Or peeking out from refrigerator box shelters

In frigid months.

How difficult it was,

Those years when I dare not

Grouse about my plight,

My sleepless nights,

My jobless days,

My cold feet

When I passed them quickly,

Rushing to my cold-water flat

And a portable floor heater,

My winter companion…

Just around the corner.