I’m a homeless marine who has AIDS
lost my apartment in a fire
got six kids and 2 cats to feed
sell candy to stay off the streets
I’m broke and it aint no joke
waiting for my unemployment EBT debit card
you can peep my ID
any food or spare change please
I’m hungry
anything you can give even a penny helps
they cut off my SSI
I play congas,
guitar,
saxophone
bucket drums,
steel drums
I sing
break dance,
rap,
recite poetry,
play the sitar and air guitar
Down on my luck
begging for a buck
I hustle chess games
sell watches and trash for fast cash
old radios with tape decks
pre-HD TVs
worn down shoes
old toys
remote controls
electronic zebras
tools
lamps
shirts and pants
I’m African
European
Czechoslovakian
Hawaiian
Puerto Rican
Dominican
Haitian
St. Lucian
Mexican
Indian
American
my skin color is
white
brown
pink
safire
topaz and lavender
I sell on 33rd street and Broadway
on the 1 line
on the A train to Harlem
W to queens
JMZ to Brooklyn
5 train to the Bronx
I play jazz
rock
calypso
reggae
mariachi
blues
electric and acoustic
I play on 8th street
in the subway
I sell old books
used jerk off magazines
sing do-wop hits
Records
bongs and crack pipes
I whisper in a loud raspy hoarse voice
I’m the unheard cry from NYC
stagger from ghettos
roof tops
corner spots
shelters
subway cars
train tunnels
beaches to boon docks
I’m the unheard voice crying in the New York City wilderness
shaving summer ices in tropical flavors in small white Dixie cups
dripping down hands making sticky fingers
freshly squeezed orange juice
Cuchifritos from illegally parked trucks
bottles of water on the highway
I search for cans and bottles to get change
look for left behind quarters in pay phones
pick through the rich man’s garbage
I mug for a meal
sell dime bags and rocks to people who want to cop
prostitute myself
sell quick fucks and $20 blow jobs
hold up hard-to-read cardboard signs
I’m an unwanted gypsy
Feel my pain
I’m a throw away just trying to survive the day
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