John-Ward Leighton

SALLY ANN CHIC

Photo ©Copyright by John-Ward Leighton: Sally Ann Chic
The Resident Beggar

The Everyday Charade!
Photos ©Copyright 2008 by John-Ward LeightonThe passing parade
someone’s everyday charade,
their mothers dress them funny
in Sally Ann chic.
Boots, shoes, sandals,
runners
and raggedy ass jeans.
Handbags, shoulder bags,
rucksacks, iPods and cameras
and faces that don’t look like ours
Taipei, Beijing, and Tokyo
all those places where our jobs go.
The resident beggar
returns from his lunch break
and cap in hand smokes the day
away.
The camera clicks
the many scenes
of feminine butts
in skin tight jeans.
If this is something too effete
we press the button to delete.
The beggar lights another cigarette
at nine dollars for 15
how expensive can it get?
His journey to slow suicide
but not on his own dime.
My coffee is now lukewarm
but my hand is busy with pen
I’ve got to get it down
because it won’t pass this way again.