THE BENT-OVER MAN
His view is dirt bound geological,
never seeing the stars.
Dimes, pennies, glass fragments,
and muffin crumbs are like sunsets for him.
How did this happen?
How long ago?
Longing for deep breaths
into his constricted lungs,
could bursts of Pagliacci escape?
No one speaks.
Do treasure hunts comprise his daydreams--
a silver dollar, a feathered hat pin?
Or maybe sleep brings remembrance
of sparkling tiger kites, limber, straight-backed,
in the skies of his youth.