WHO IS SHE?

By Anwar Aswad Amir

There she sits on the restaurant stool.

She’s not asking for handouts or asking

For food.

Where she comes from and where she goes?

Is a mystery cause no one knows.

Is she rebelling against society?

Or hurt by her mother

Sister or brother?

Is she a victim of child abuse?

Losing her job or some other misuse?

Did she and her father, fallout?

Was her mother around?

Did she just walk out?

Did her man let her down?

Or did she just give up the fight?

Is she punishing her family

By sleeping in the streets

Both day and night?

She’s got paper bags, plastic bags and

A worn-out suit case held together by strings.

I offered to light her cigarette and

My offer is refused.

Maybe she just don’t get into them things.

She’s a beautiful African sister she even has

Freckles.

She’s a bag lady

I guess you might say.

After I finished my coffee, I was going out

Of the door and I was still wondering

Who is she?

And what makes her live this way?

Sleeping in the streets night and day.

Where she comes from and where she goes?

Is a mystery cause no one knows.

She just roam and roam.

Why don’t she have a home?

It’s a mystery to me.

Every time I see her on Ninth Street

I wonder who she is?

Copyright Homeless Grapevine Issue #13, Cleveland, Ohio