Michael K.

Ragged and dirty,

he sits on the corner

begs for change

for his cup

and his life.

At night,

he sleeps on a bench

under a torn trenchcoat

shaking in the winter chill.

He wakes to the sounds

of birds chirping

dogs barking

horns blaring.

He used to jump

at a chance for work.

Now

he hardly tries

he feels

broken,

defeated,

hopeless.

He knows what people see:

a failure

an addict

a dropout.

They are wrong.

he is

a father

a brother

a husband.

Down on his luck,

treated like an animal.