more than food

On my way to get some food-

at mid day, on a hot afternoon.

I saw a man and his dog, 

sitting on the ground-

on a grassy knoll.

He had a typical sign

asking for help,

food and money, 

I didn't stop.

conventional needs, y' know.

I ordered my food.

I parked in close proximity to them

within a 150 foot radius.

As I munched down, 

I ate the fish sandwich 'n fries, 

two milks- in cute, plastic mini-bottles-

chilled

my favorite order

It was okay this time-

I didn't taste it this time-

I should have parked somewhere else.

I watched them from an askew view-

by my impromptu adjusted, 

rear view mirror.

I watched him wave to departing drivers,

their bellies and bags full.

None gave.

I finished my meal 

capped with the final slug of 2% milk,

re-adjusted my mirror-

reversed on asphalt then forward drive,

onto the unpaved side of the adjacent road, 

where the man and dog sat.

He looked up in a quick glance,

then looked down-

he didn't ask for anything-

not even with his eyes,

just a beat up cardboard sign

that he'd laid down.

I drove past him and his dog.

I had contemplated giving him money- 

but didn't-

I see his kind,

all the time.

I heard a voice in my head say, "He stinks."

Another said, "He's a panhandler, 

he'll buy whiskey with the money you give him-

Thunderbird or some kind of rot-gut drink."

Another voice added, "He should get a job."

Finally, one other said, "Why bother?

move on, the world's full of beggars."

I stopped suddenly and dropped my car in reverse. 

My tires violently kicked up gravel 

that flew in wild directions as I peeled backwards-

stopped directly in his full frontal view

in closeness of proximity.

I opened my driver's side window

and handed him a 10 dollar bill.

He looked at me with a dirty face that smiled.

I pushed the gear selector in drive 

and never looked back.

On my way back home,

I looked in my rear view mirror-

to get it right-

i saw him there.