I feel your body next to mine
Warm and soft and smelly
And I know you were once somebody's child

You with the ragged nails and hunched shoulders
Tumbled down jeans and thrift shop sweater
Unwashed skin and greasy hair
Defeated, bent, and in despair

You were once loved by someone good
Held close and patted, whispered to
Swaddled and kissed and sung good night
Hoped and prayed for, given joy
Or maybe you weren't.


April  29th, 2017
Upon seeing homeless people on the D train


Photo Credit:
Steve Baker