by Melva Athans

Created on: October 05, 2007

Fragile State

Down the path of a dusty lane way
A man sits floored, skin creased and lame
Crevices etched into his leathered skin
Reveal a life so unjust, so grim
Sun beams upon his useless legs
"A sip of cool water", he begs
His dirty stained bed of nails
Prominent against the white, chipped tips
He drags himself away from the heat
Down his forehead run rivers of sweat
He thanks me for my intrusion
A measure of his fragile state within
A smile reveals rusty, broken stained teeth
Stains from his addiction to the tobacco leaf
My momentary, unexpected passing
Comfort, to ease the solitary loneliness he's masking

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