everyday’s a gift
friend you need know nothing else
celebrate your life
the night
has found
your dreams
and returned
them to you
you need not
wander alone
along the shore
of expectation
skipping stones of desire
into a murky sea
come lie with me
before the dawn
touches your lips
and before the sun
tolls the noon day bell
breathe in the beauty
of the gift
of a day
with love
i must admit
i was quite surprised
to see her there
bare feet residing
under a table twice her size
on a carpet of worn out grass
but
she appeared at ease
in this impromptu marketplace
offering only one item
to wanderers of this sidewalk
a pair of shoes
the finest
she had ever worn
according to the sales rep.
my inquiry into why
she would sell
such a fine personal item
was greeted with a smile
and carefully chosen words
like
any good salesperson
without bothering you with all the details
i can summarize it like this
daddy
lost job
daddy
sad
no money for food
wanted to help
love
daddy
so
i paid twenty dollars
for the shoelaces
and told her
to take the shoes home
just in case
things got
worse
looks like
things got
better