You do not know me, but I know you

You stand on the corner of the abandoned pool house in the scorching Louisiana heat

At night you huddle in the dark alleyway, where Mr. Jones throws pizza scraps for the cats

I’ve seen the old garments you wear, they’re faded and almost unreadable

But I’ve read them

“Sargent McCombs U.S Marines”

You do not know me, but I know you

I watch you from my window in Saint Mary’s

I watch you as I lay paralyzed on my deathbed

I watch you when you think no one else watches

Your red eyes shows that you’ve been abandoned

Your dirty face shows that  you’ve been mistreated

Your trembling hands shows that you’ve given up

That you are alone and forgotten

But you are beautiful to me exile

You do not know me, but I know you

You do not know this but today I take my last breath

You do not know this but even when I am gone I will be with you

You do not know this but these last tears I shed are not for me

They are for you