Des Moines Jones

Leslie Dianne

That guy with
the meth jones
begging on the
corner
his lies
scrawled on
cardboard
he stole from the
grocery store
along with
a snicker’s bar
hitting me up
for a dollar
his hunger
rotting like
his teeth

I see the
need in his eyes
the hold on
in his fists
as he tries to steady his
feet on the concrete

fall down slow
another mistake
another miss
another beautiful
boy blessing
and kissing
the street