The jubilance of
Beer drinking
Loud music
Friends singing
(Or was it shouting)
None of this warmed
The huddled woman
Sleeping on the concrete
Covered head to toe
With a thin blanket
On a chilly night
–
About the poem:
Have you ever heard of a bicycle bar? You can get together with 15 of your friends and pedal around downtown Denver drinking the on-board keg. It seemed pretty fun, even though it was really cold there last night, on the 16th Street Mall.
But as I walked on, smiling at the scene, I nearly stepped on a homeless woman sleeping on the ground. She was completely covered but was moving around, trying to get warm or comfortable.
The two scenes were completely incongruous. I could not summarize the situation. I left a banana and some bus passes, sent warm thoughts and hurried home. On a chilly night.
We often complain about such little stuff, but forget to be thankful for a warm bed and a fully belly, on a chilly night. And figure out how to be compassionate to those who don’t.
Filed under: Poem Tagged: 16th Street Mall, cold, compassion, Denver, Denver Bike Bar, gratitude, homeless, night, woman
