At a drive through window
I saw a man cross the lane
Limping
In clothes not fit for the cold
Looking half-crazed
And all alone
And on the verge of something terrible
From depression
Or addiction
Or both
Or god knows what
Or how many reasons

I told my wife that I was thankful
Because, without her,
I could easily see myself in that man
That wild-eyed, shivering man
Who knew only hard truths
And so seldom has good news to tell
Often with more troubles than thoughts
To handle them all

Looking in a mirror
And seeing yourself truly as you are
Can shake a person to their core
She didn’t say anything, my wife,
But later she cried, I think
Because she knows how much misery I carry around
And how close I am to something terrible
From addiction
Or depression
Or both
Or god knows what
Or how many reasons

My love
I did not mean to make you cry
You do not have to

Without you
Where would I be?
Where would my cold feet
Find warm fire?
Where would be the nourishment for my insides?

Where would I be limping along?
Where would I be gawked at
By some uppity ***** in a Toyota
Eating food I wish I could have
And thanking his lucky stars he isn’t me?