i wake up
brush my teeth
in a puddle of mud
in the middle of the street
the same place
i wash my face
homeless early
homeless late

i check my reflection
in a right hand mirror
wipe it clean
it's a little clearer
objects are smaller
than they appear
like my life
since i've been here

of course i don't like
where i am
with no one here
to call me friend
hard to remember
my past life
something about that
don't seem right

i unfold
my cardboard sign
recite the lines
i've memorized
hoping for
one meal a day
but have had less
as of late

on the corner
is where i see
people avert
their eyes from me
i have to wonder
what i've done
as i haven't
harmed anyone

they look at me
as if i were a ***
but what i am
is a mothers son
look hard enough
and you will see
i could be you
you could be me