Salem's Lot

When it is time to die, let us not discover that we never lived. - Thoreau

in the charred city of witches on the water

amidst nearby, brawling scents of coffee brewing and food cooking

sections of yesterday's news for a blanket

shielded from the wind and rain

bearded, street dave sleeps in the bus shelter in front of walgreen's

'tween trips to the liquor store 'cross the street next to the post office where the wind is mercilessly whipping the flag

laughing at everything 'cuz he's long since forgotten how to cry

as he wonders why life is taking so long

oblivious to what awaits him on this or the other side

asking me what time it is as he passes by

shuffling bowlegged away from the truth as he resolutely and patiently waits to die

Author's Note

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Dave Brown]

Sadly truthful
I never saw anything like this when growing up, now it seems to be the norm.
The city of Vancouver is currently eliminating a large encampment that is slowly eating a huge chunk of its underbelly
Not just too sure where they will relocate

[Pete]

this is about a man i met not too long ago, a great guy who had become a local fixture. police sometimes have to go in and break up tent cities. thanks for sharing dave ... :)