Poem: "Apparition" by Elena Karis

Apparition
Elena Karis, 9/13/17

Homeless and on the streets
To beg, borrow, and steal.
Passersbys gawk and squawk
All the while you pretend it’s no big deal.
Leaving a can out for people to drop a dime
One, two, three go by
None of them have the time.

Either you do or you don’t.
Either you will or you won’t.
No one should be left in the cold.
Either you can or you can’t.
Either you want or you don’t.
Why should someone have to sell their soul?

Day after day, hoping and waiting
Fading and feeling like a ghost
My breath abating
Everlasting days and nights
One, two, three
Numbers so high it leaves its bite.

Either you do or you don’t.
Either you will or you won’t.
No one should be left in the cold.
Either you can or you can’t.
Either you want or you don’t.
Why should someone have to sell their soul?