between here and there.

asked for
spare change
i say
not for you
not today
maybe some
other time
and continue
down the side-
walk thinking
anything i need
could be mine
by the luck
of my full wallet
but then
nothing i need
ever lasts
whether it's
a beer or a
bagel or another
month's rent.
it's the things
we don't need
that last:
old letters,
magazines, books,
records, receipts,
photographs--all
the crap that
keeps us from
climbing up and
out of ourselves.
i walk down
the street
w/ a wallet
full of money
waiting for the
next person to ask

feb 17 2003


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