Homeless Encampment

 

Homeless Encampment

Excuse me, sir,
but did you once
sixty years ago
come upon three cub scouts
in blue uniforms wandering lost in a small forest
fearing bears in the underbrush, vultures in the sky
and you guided us to daylight
where no one had missed us?
Oh. Well, anyway,
let me give you a beer.

Pardon me, ma’am,
but did you once
substitute-teach a high school English class
the subject was poetry but you only knew limericks
and the class was in stitches;
you made us promise not to tell
but they never hired you again?
Oh. Well, anyway,
let me give you a beer.

So sorry, sir,
but did you once
as a night watchman come upon
a boy and a girl kissing without clothing
in the factory shadow in your flashlight beam
and you said “Don’t make a mess”
and moved on?
Oh. Well, anyway,
let me give you a beer. Three beers
and I’ll show you pictures of some
fine little messes, grown big and gone away.

……

From my book Random Saints
First published in MOON Magazine—thank you editor Leslee Goodman
photo by Stephen Marc