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.