thankless
by Tony Brewer
I ignore every spare-change addict I encounter
I ignore every spare-change addict I encounter
except when I have
post-restaurant doggy bag.
I hope they like Thai
food but expect them
to throw it away – it’s
not money
and I have no booze or
drugs or sex in my pocket
for them tonight. I don’t
discriminate.
I hate money, the wall
between who we are
and what we want. Some
people only know
how to make bricks – be
mortar.
Mental illness reduced to
cardboard sign
like politics squeezed
onto bumper stickers.
It works but then the
light turns green.
There is nothing to be
taught
in that moment of
potential exchange.
Nothing gained or saved
or prolonged
except a great societal
guilt trip
– that we measure our
level of civility
according to how we treat
our least
– that these unfortunates
might be damaged
or lost or running – that
desperation
has no home or
destination but a look.
Wrinkled ones and coins
passed hand to Styrofoam
act as mile markers on
this long sad trip
for we give alms not to
do good
but to feel good
ourselves.
Bio: Tony Brewer is a poet, spoken word performer, sound effects
artist, typesetter, and event producer from Bloomington, Indiana. He chairs the
Writers Guild at Bloomington and is executive director of the Spoken Word Stage
at the 4th Street Arts Festival. He has 3 books: The Great American Scapegoat, Little
Glove in a Big Hand (Plan B Press), and Hot
Type Cold Read (Chatter House Press).