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Feb 18

Cold Coffee

Thermos half empty,
coffee cold,
no change for a refill,
gave it all to the beggar,
the guy at the Colfax off ramp,
with the sign,
“Vet, will work,”
but he never does.

I know,
drugs and alcohol –
it wasn’t that long ago
I might’ve
put the money there
myself –
it’s okay.

I figure,
if it takes him past
his demons
for just a little while,
I can drink
cold coffee.

–Bill Gainer