coffee and change ~

 

Portland

and the homeless encroach

like zombies

on the lucky

the ones who live

in houses   in apartments

have homes

have families who still speak

have coffee

and change

we who have it do not fear it

but without the silver glint

of coins burnished through touch

coffee is a fragrant dream

which might reanimate

an hour

transmute a zombie shuffle

to at least a tentative step

I offer bills to a trembling hand

and pray for change