He had salt water in his veins
I knew it from the moment our eyes met
His calloused hands proving worth
I needed to consume him
He reached for the flower in my braid
I led him down an alley

In my home he removed his hat
My clothes, my insecurities, my skin
He gave me shells from his life
I treasured them like coins

When he had to return to the Sea
He kissed my cheek
I bid him farewell
That was the beginning

matted hair on tobacco stained fingers
reaches through the six inches
of unrolled window
crumpling the ten dollar bill
I have extended
to somebodies family –
Driving out of the parking lot
I notice four others
in similar attire
all with shabbily crafted
cardboard signs
expressing “God’s love”
and “please help”
hundreds pass…
do they see? –
forgoing poison fast food,
I circle behind a corporate chain
and fish out of my wallet
a five and two ones
again, I roll my window down
and make eye contact
same ***** hand
same crumpled bills –
Struggling to make sense
of what I am witnessing
I look back at my now empty wallet
and rub a belly, slightly extended
and partially irritated by lack of food
and chuckle….
I really have it so good.