On November 24, 2021

‘Buddy can you spare a dime?’

By Julia Purdy

Under a fuzzy gray sky that promises snow
They stand like lone sentinels
At the traffic lights Dark figures, straight-backed, lean,
Once strong, capable bodies
Muffled up in layers of old clothes, hoodies under jackets worn thin.

Some are veterans.
Small birds flock across the sky, strength-training for their journey.
Where are you staying?
Oh, here and there… Out on 103… In the woods… I have a place lined up but I need to pay off my old electric bill first… I just need $30 to get into a motel room…
My hand is frozen, feel it…
Here, this will hold you. Good luck.
Thank you very much. God bless.
The mountaintops are whitening now…

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