A Dark Figure
A dark figure
stands at the entrance of a lighted church.
Elmer the husky and I
walk the neighborhood at 5:30 AM.
No moon or stars seen in the sky.
I see the figure.
I know it's a homeless man
because I see the homeless
almost every morning on our walks.
Think about that regularity.
It still astonishes me.
We approach him.
I lead Elmer off the sidewalk
to give us some distance
to go around.
I don't like feeling that way,
but it happens sometimes.
He's smoking a cigarette.
He's tall, young, bearded, contorted.
He's looking up at the sky,
gesticulating,
pointing,
raging,
but utterly silent.
If there had been stars,
just one,
or the moon,
even a sliver,
I might understand.
There is nothing
but black.
Usually, I say good morning
to the homeless.
Not this morning.