The Gathering
They stood
shoulder in front of shoulder
waiting for a free, home-cooked meal.
A line of men,
all homeless,
with tales untold
behind grateful, sad eyes,
waited patiently for their ration.
A can of soda,
a bottle of water
to wash down
the generosity
of the more fortunate church members.
And two pair of socks,
unused and crisp white,
a parting gift
given from man to man.
A smile,
a gentle reminder
of the human connection
we all share,
slid easily
across the faces of some,
but not so much for others.
The hurt,
the loss,
the dreams deferred
knew no color,
no age,
no boundary.
A gathering of souls
on two sides of the divide.
Memos from the Middle 