It was not long after sundown

And we were on our way walking back to his car

A lady, my father, and I

Had just bought what we needed, and some more.

Two boys stopped me before I could stop myself from looking

Into their eyes

And their color was just like mine.

I greeted them and they asked for my change to spare

I had none.

I had but five years in my pocket or less, or maybe more

I was a couple of steps behind my dad, trying to understand,

Why would they need something I didn’t know I could give

I asked my father for a couple of cents, trying to understand,

Why he grabbed my arm and pushed me close to his face.

You don’t talk to people on the streets like that, he said

What they need from us is not what we have

And you will promise me this is not something you’ll repeat.

And he pulled me with a bag of groceries,

With things we needed and some things more.

I want to help, that was my timid response,

I wasn’t able to stand my ground.

No, the lady said  as she tripped and her bag almost fell

They don’t need your help, that is not what they lack.

But I refused to enter the car

I instead looked over my shoulder, to see the boys

My age, reflected through my eyes,

my eyes.

After some more fight I got in, accepted my defeat.

And now it was dark on a Thursday night,

And my father drove away from the store,

If he’d looked back he’d have seen my eyes,

looking through a trashcan nearby.