He sits cross-legged
in the middle of the sidewalk
A tan coat, dirty and worn,
the final layer of protection
over all his belongings

all of his belongings

Hands in pockets
Hood over head
Shoulders hunched
Hidden in plain sight

Foolishness claims he
chose this lifestyle
That throwing away
His belongings will
magically clean
up the streets

Instead, this demolition
paves a dangerous path
toward ignoring our
responsibility to love,
no matter what

A dangerous path
whitewashed as a
much-improved scene,
until close observation
reveals the truth

Someone’s son helplessly
sits in the middle of the sidewalk
Hands in pockets
Hood over head
Shoulders hunched
Hidden in plain sight