Friday, November 13, 2015

Charles Bukowski: "helping the old"

















I was standing in line at the bank today
when the old fellow in front of me
dropped his glasses (luckily, within the
case)
and as he bent over
I saw how difficult it was for
him
and I said, “wait, let me get
them. . . “
but as I picked them up
he dropped his cane
a beautiful, black polished
cane
and I got the glasses back to him
then went for the cane
steadying the old boy
as I handed him his cane.
he didn’t speak,
he just smiled at me.
then he turned
forward.

I stood behind him waiting
my turn.



"helping the old" by Charles Bukowski, from You Get So Alone at Times That It Just Makes Sense (HarperCollins, 2002). Text as posted on Poeticous.

 Art credit: "Hand of senior man leaning on walking stick," photograph by AdStock RF.


2 comments :

  1. A generous contemplation, and realistic, too......it's too easy to forget that we end up being at the head of the line even if we don't move

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful. I could often be a substitute for the old man.

    ReplyDelete

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