LOU RASMUS

Feeling lonely,
I walk the streets
and find a homeless man
to talk to.
He just pissed himself
and he’s wearing a
garbage bag as a poncho.
He says that his name is Joe Norman.
He lost his wife and kids
in a car accident
years ago,
and then basically gave up
on everything and started
wandering the streets,
lost, hungry,
and not seeing the point
in doing anything
any differently.
He asks if I have a
dollar to spare.
I give him a dollar.
But when I open my wallet
he sees that I have more money
than just a dollar,
and he asks if I can spare
anything else.
I shrug and give him
a couple more dollars.
He tells me more about
the accident his family was in.
He sheds a tear.
And I give him everything else
that I have.
He says, “God bless.”
I say, “you’re welcome.”
And then I go home
and get in my bed,
and out through my window
I see that fucking guy
get in a car with a woman
and two kids.

DEAD RED FISH