Frayed, ripped jeans, knees clutched with arms to body
sitting, nearly being swallowed by hat and coat as she shivers
I ask to sit, barley hearing voice as it's spoken just above a whisper
sweet, innocent face intently peering at mine as we speak
I learn her story as she shares carefully
articulating very slowly, leading me to hang on her every word
with each sentence her chin quavers, allowing herself a fully honest moment
to tear up and be openly sad
we sit together in the sad, in the alone feeling
for a heavy moment I get to experience life through her eyes
I see the boots and knees of those walking back and forth
I feel the isolation, an awareness of being invisible
depending on loose change and pity of the stranger
knowing a little bed in the dark alleyway awaits
uncertain of when life will begin to get better
:::
With eyes to glowing stones below our feet
we trek into the pitch darkness of the overpass
flashlight in hand calling out into the echo of spray painted concrete
Beholding our friends homes
gathered, collected,set up amongst the messy trash
Out of the stillness two heads pop up from a mattress
sleepy faces, big smiles, kind chatter
sitting up in bed ready to share a box of pizza
