you approached me
on the sidewalk, it
was 3:19
and raining
you said "ma'am, can
you spare a dollar?"
I told you
no, son
I can't. you
followed after me,
saying "yes, you can!"
I spun around
almost too anxiously
and told you
you didn't know
s*** on a stick about
me and my life
and you said
"what am I supposed
to make of a
dumb lady with
a cigarette
jetting out of the
corner of her
mouth?" and
I said, "kid, you're
going east of nowhere
fast." and arms stretched
out in the dingy air you
yelled "no, ma'am,
I'm headed north of
somewhere."

and I
started to wish
I was too.