he came across the city blocked night to me, the stranger, calling,
“Hey man, I’m looking for America!
Man, I just need 75 cents to get home, man,
I’m just looking for America!”
so reaching into my purchased purse
I gave it to him,
I gave him America, the paper founder’s face.
he offered to make change, to give some America back to me
a quarter I didn’t need
I let him keep all that America
“Thank you, man, no really, thank you…” trailed off, melting into
buzzing flickering fluorescence behind me,
“No, thank you,” I said
wondering why
America
was all he wanted
Have to admit he was pretty cool for a mainstream panhandler... Maybe it was Jack Kerouac's ghost in disguise.
ReplyDeleteI like it. money = America? good examination of humanity and stuff..../
ReplyDeletealso, I read it in a redneck accent.
Very interesting. More provocative than artistic in my opinion, but I think its good.
ReplyDeleteMy style is definitely more provocative haha. And the panhandler in question was a young African American male who approached me around midnight outside the Florida Theatre, and I quoted his words almost exactly. I agree, Cameron. I don't think I will soon forget him.
ReplyDelete