On the corner
Stood a man with a sign
"Why lie? I need a beer"



At the street light
Stood a woman with a sign
"I need a miracle"

An emaciated scar
She was lavender thriving in winter
Her raven locks struggled against a net of dew
Like famished birds trying to flee a corpse
A shepherd hook grin
Never reached eyes of anticipating coffins

A gutter lily
Picking away scabs like festering petals
With meth for lunch
And heroine a hobby
Strapped to the tracks
With no train coming
She discarded her cardboard elegy




The woman crossed the street
and joined the man
On the corner




Empty Handed.