Phil-adel-phia
There’s a black guy
in front of the Wawa
and two children with a baby carriage
by the 7-11.
They ask for change
before you get it-
staking a claim on the future-
real pioneers.
In the park
an old man
with Parkinson hands
and a yellow rain poncho on a clear-skied day
sits on a bench
feeding shakey handfuls
of crumbs
to pigeons
and sparrows.
While I eat a pretzel
I bought with my
change
a sparrow hops up to my feet,
looks up at me…
Fuck you, old man,
now even the birds
know how to beg.