empty vagrant shout
like secondhand beans spilling out
pebbles on the flies
dubious disguise
crumpled leg shadows
on deserted dusty walls
on a sidewalk window display
on a child’s broken doll
to what fate entice her here
to cornered streets
to stinking fear
useless years
upon her breath
city sounds
play out the death
of the mendicant she was
waiting once to borrow
a fraction of today
by a bare thread of tomorrow