In this
one moment
I see

The old
man with
the cardboard
sign sitting
on the dirt
corner in
front of me,

looks like
a fat black
pool turtle
waiting for
something  
good to
fly by.

perched in
a pose of
power
but nobody
else sees him
that way
I am sure.

he stares
out into open
space like
an predator
looking
for prey.

and it
is not
money he
wants or
respect,

they died
long ago
in his
smile.

he just wants
this dam heat
wave to
calm down,

and his
belley to be
half full
after supper.

and his
kids where ever
they are
to grow up
to be anything
better than
him.

and he
just wants
death to
come and
not wake
him up
when it
does.


it's 4:30 in LA
on a Tuesday
afternoon.

"welcome to
paradise "