Mr. Clean by Jasen Sousa

Mr. Clean

The dirt has been washed

off his hands. The streaks of ash

have been removed from his face.

His socks are not full of blood. His feet

are without blisters from walking in looped trails

for different places to sleep.

He is home with muscles

on his bones, lined up sideburns, and eyes

that haven’t seen me since

I was a much younger man.

He carries sidewalk stories

in his jean pockets. Years of stepped on gum

imbedded into the skin

on his forearms.

The sun is out. People walk up and down

the streets with their own agendas, knowing, and not knowing

where their feet, and minds

will take them today.

My friend’s thoughts have returned him

to my life, not to ask for extra cash,

or a place to crash until those he has yet to pay

find someone else to harass.

My friend has returned

looking for the all the years he has lost.

He has trusted me to help him find them.

We will go back out at night with a flashlight,

look for all that he has dropped along the way,

and I will help him pick it all up piece by piece.

First Published

Somewhere Lost

Library of Congress

Cataloging in Publication Data

ISBN 978-0-9714926-7-7

Jasen SousaJune 11, 2014Comment