No Chicken

 22nd April 

Oh look, it looks like I didn't post this:

1st April

Napowrimo Again - a poem a day in April

Day 1

No Chicken

You sit,

Hunched over,

cold pavement beneath you, 

colourful sleeping bag

pulled up under your chin,

yet chill air gets in, 

chill air gets in, 

this crisp March morning,

Strategically, carefully 

 you chose your spot,

beside the steps
 leading to the the doors,

of St Benedict's  Church.

You reach out your hand,

 gnarled, greasy, gritted with the road,

Your eyes search mine, hopefully,

finding their way to a  corner

of my soul

"Are you hungry?
Can I get you a sandwich?"
"Yes, thanks..."
Is that an Albanian accent?
"What kind would you like?"

I leave  you that dignity,

won't presume to choose.

"Chicken please..."
"No chicken left, 

what about
 ham and cheese?"
"That's fine, Thank you"
polite, refined, 

what brought you here?

You take my hand.
I wish I could take you home.
I find myself sitting beside you,
I listen as you tell your story,

You smile, for a while, 
I leave,

go back  to my,

centrally heated house,
you,  forever a part of me.