Paid Up

There he sits, taking off his
second pair of pants, legs wet.
Outer coat of three soaked,
he doffs into a shopping cart,

. . . just glad he’d had an umbrella . . .

for the long walk to a bathroom.
Takes off toboggan and combs hair
in local grocery store cafe across
from one who pretends reading paper

. . . who glares across, angry . . .

at one who lives in vehicle that
that won’t crank to run or heat, now.
Part-time job not enough for rent, sad
for misunderstood converse with niece/sister

. . . on cell phone, service all paid up . . .

     --12/10/08

     --by RK