I've been to a place

where "middle class"

is said in longing

Where my left-over garbage

is somebody's life line.

A toothless woman

smiles,

and eats her instant pudding.

A single

silent

tear falls off my nose.



A lonely man eats an egg salad sandwich

and looks around

embarrassed.

I hear him thinking,

"Why me, why am I here?"

I feel his desperation

as he angrily pushes the remaining food away.



I look at myself and cringe,

my jeans are far too new,

my shirt far too clean,

my life far too perfect.

I gaze at the man who shouldn't be there,

and thank God it's not me.

And, at the same time,

I wish

with all my heart

and soul

that we could change places.