Street

Helen pushed the Costco shopping cart.
Larger than Von’s model,
It allowed for more debris,
The substance of her life.

All 4 wheels moved smoothly,
Far better then her last cart,
Allowing her to feel a little better,
With less chance of tipping, smoother turns.

Street lights had not taken effect,
As the cooling sun still
Illuminated the broken sidewalk,
And people had not taken their stations.

Her 2 sweaters and jacket
Impinged on her movements
But provided enough protection
To keep her warm.

Tied to the cart’s handle
Was a small wrinkled plastic bag
Holding a stolen banana, a day old roll
And a small bottle of Dago Red.

Her skirt, which covered
An older, more distressed one,
Had suffered from street use.
In contrast her sneakers looked clean.

She carried her 50 years
With determination, if not grace,
But grace would not do,
Genteel poverty lived indoors.