Sir
Nobody has called me Sir in a long time
What is your name
Seymour
And yours
Jennifer but people call me Jenny
I like to read poems to people I meet in the street
The streets are my home
I am sorry to hear that
Have been for thirty years
Since Martha died
Then may we share a meal later
Are you from a church Miss
I am part of a church yes
But I read poetry to people I meet independently
I will accept your invitation of the meal
As I have not really eaten for a couple of days
Just the out of dates from the stores
I used to eat at the Louis Diner but he is in hospital
Was he a friend of yours
Yes we were in Nam together
I watched his brother die
We kinda bonded
I watched his back he watched mine
Louis is a good man but he is very ill
I try to visit him
But I cannot afford the fares
So I pray for him right here in front of the store
But Miss you said that you wanted to read a poem to me
I would like to read a poem to you Seymour
Who wrote it that Shakespeare fellow
No Djuna Barnes
Never heard of her
She is not all that well known
Here where the trees tremble with your flight
I sit and braid thin whips to beat you down.
How shall we ever find you who have gone
In little dresses, lisping through the town?
Great men on horses hunt you, and strong boys
Employ their arrows in the shallow air.
But I shall be heard whistling where I follow
Braiding long wisps of grass and stallion’s hair.
And in the night when thirty hawks are high
In pendent rhythm, and all the wayside loud;
When they are burning field and bush and hedge,
I’ll steal you like a penny from the crowd.
I must say I like it but do not understand it
You read it so well
Is it your favourite poem
It is one of many poems I love
Seymour you are a good man
As good as many Miss
Before we eat I am going to give you an envelope
It contains a number of dollar notes
Why me
Why not
If you like then share it with somebody else
Who is down on their luck
That is up to you
Whether you do there is enough to visit your friend
And enough to tide you over for a while
I ask again why me
Because I like to share my happiness that’s all
God has given me so much
So very much
I used to be on the streets like you
Look at my arm what do you see
Junkie scars
I was in the gutter and God rescued me
And I made it my mission to help those
Who are now less fortunate than me
But enough of that Seymour
Lets eat
Where do you suggest
Well the Catcus Grill is a good place
Then it is the Catcus Grill