February
hours before dawn
winking at the starlit sky
my untied Keds and long sweater
over my short gown felt comfortable
against the elements
as I waited for the puppy to finish,
first her playing
as I got colder, her business.
 
It was her fierce barking that startled me
more than the lone man who appeared from nowhere
suddenly in the street before me.
Our eyes met, 
he was no more than a boy really
holding his ear with a hand.
He seemed compelled to tell me,
perhaps because of the hour,
he was suffering from an agonizing earache.
 
He continued to walk holding his ear
telling me he had been evicted,
was staying with friends
needed to make it to another friends
who had a car to get to the hospital.
 
I stammered that he should put cotton in it to keep the cold out.
(Where the hell have all the parents gone?)
He disappeared into the darkness,
I into my warm house feeling guilty that I had insurance, money, and a car.
I said a prayer but somehow I didn't feel any better.
I don't think he did either.