CITY SIDEWALKS
by Will Magnus Speaking for White Eagle

AS I WALK THESE CITY STREETS
I CAN NOT LOOK LONG INTO
THE EYES OF THE HOMELESS
AS THEY APPROACH ME.
TOO MUCH PAIN,
TOO MUCH SADNESS
TOO MUCH
MISERY.
I AM NOT AFRAID OF THEM,
NOR THEY OF ME
THEY DON'T SIZE ME UP
THEY SIMPLY LET ME BE.
I CAN NOT LOOK LONG INTO
THE EYES OF THE BUSINESSMAN
WITH HIS BRIEFCASE
AS HE APPROACHES ME.
TOO MUCH MISTRUST
TOO MUCH PAIN AND DISGUST
TOO MUCH INDIGNATION
HE ISN'T FREE.
I CAN NOT LOOK LONG INTO
THE EYES OF THE STUDENT
AS HE WALKS HOME FROM CLASS.
CELLULAR PHONES SO CLOSE TO HIS EARS
SO ATTACHED TO HIMSELF, HE CANNOT HEAR THE ANGEL'S BLAST
NOR TOUCH THE FEARS OF THE LESS FORTUNATE.
I CANNOT COUNT THE NUMBER OF CANS
THE HOMELESS COLLECTS TO EASE HIS PAIN
I CANNOT WITNESS THE CHOICES HE MAKES
NOR THE ONES HE SELECTS, THE ONES HE TRIES TO ERASE.
SOMETIMES I SEE NOTHING BUT
CRUEL JOKES, SCRAPS OF PAPER PACKAGED WITH MOPE AND WHINE
THAT OTHERS LEAVE BEHIND.
PIECES OF PLASTIC WE CAN ALL PICK UP
BUT WE DON'T.
WHERE WOULD WE PUT THEM?
WHEN THERE'S ONLY ONE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE THINGS YOU DON'T WANT?
PUT THEM IN SOMEONE ELSE'S BACKYARD?
THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BUT US. THERE IS NO BACKYARD!
EARTH IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ITS ALL WE'VE GOT.
WHEN SHE HAS ENOUGH OF US
SHE'LL DO IT FOR US.
EVERYONE ON THE BUS WILL LOSE.
SHE DOES NOT CHOOSE OR SELECT
WHO SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT
AND WHO MUST SIT IN BACK.
THE HOMELESS, THE BUSINESSMAN, THE STUDENT, THE TEACHER.
THE PREACHER AND HIS CONGREGATION,
YOU AND ME,
WE'LL ALL GO UNDER
IF WE DON'T ARREST THIS MADNESS,
THIS INDIFFERENCE, THIS FAILURE TO GIVE OF OURSELVES
TO HELP EACH AND EVERY SISTER AND BROTHER
HELP OURSELVES OUT OF THE MESS WE'VE PUT OURSELVES IN.
THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE WE HAVE
THIS IS THE ONLY SPACE WE INHABIT
THIS IS THE ONLY GRACE WE ARE GIVEN
THIS IS THE ONLY FACE OF LIVING.
THIS IS NOT COMPLICATED.
ITS NOT THE FROSTING ON THE CAKE.
ITS NOT THE DARK CHOCOLATE FUTURE
SOMEWHERE INBETWEEN OR BEFORE
ITS THE WHEAT AND FLOUR OF NOW BEFORE OUR VERY EYES
FROM WHICH THE CAKE IS MADE
WITH WHICH IT IS BAKED.
WHICH CAN NOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
WE BLEACH IT, WE LEAVEN IT
WE SANITISE IT, WE BLEED IT
WE MAKE IT ALL WHITE AND PRETTY
INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT HOLY AND WHOLE.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH LEFT ONCE THE SKIN, THE GERM AND THE CHAFF FROM THE WHEAT IS REMOVED.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MEAT
TO GO AROUND IN THE STEW ON THE TABLE.
THE REST IS GARNISHMENT.
WHAT ARE WE TO DO?
WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
WE MUST GIVE EVERYONE A LITTLE PIECE
OF WHAT WE OURSELVES HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
MAYBE CINCH THE BELT AND EAT A LITTLE LESS
MAYBE ACCEPT A SMALLER PORTION AS SUFFICIENT
TESTING OUR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
FOR SOME, ITS NOT A LOT. BUT I HAVE TO SAY HONESTLY
I'VE BEEN GIVEN MORE FROM THE HOMELESS
THAN FROM EVERYONE ELSE COMBINED.
THESE ARE THE THINGS I OBSERVE AS I WALK THESE CITY STREETS
STILL LINED WITH ITS OWN KIND OF GOLD.