She was thin with
Hunger,
And smoked
Instead of ate,
Because food would
Only be from
McDonald's Dollar
Menu
And cigs could do more
Stave off hunger
Stave off nerves
Feel good
And crappy food
Would leave
One more
Empty.
She haunts me
Because she was
Genuinely embarrassed
Mortified to ask for money.
She was going to sleep
In her car tonight
Day labor in the morning
And her little dog
Looked up
With deep black
Eyes and I wondered
Where his next meal
Would come from too.
My guilt haunts me
Because I had $5
In my pocket
And didn't give it
To her because
I needed it for
Two iced teas.
She lit up
After my empathetic friend
Handed her a Five
And two other friends
Were disgusted
And offended by her plea.
Her spirit was broken
And as I watched her walk away
I knew the only difference
Between us
Was that I had friends.