I sit on the guardrail

Smoke from the cigarette in my hand

Curls into the air, spiraling, dissipating

Behind me, I hear footsteps

Heavy, halting

Shuffling through the parking lot

A figure emerges beside me

Without so much as glance in

My direction, he

Carries on down the street

Homeless, helpless,

He is not trying to be frightening,

Menacing, he is simply living his life

One step at a time.