Long stringy grey hair,
scrawny legs, pin cushion feet,
booze to sustain him
Kept to a small room
TV flickered, thoughts wandered,
wan eyes unseeing
He beat odds, fifty
years abusing his body, worn mind diminished
Till bad decisions
ended in eviction one
day after Christmas
Fear’s grip pierced the fog,
frantic calls to friends, doctors
finding place takes time
Friend’s home for two days,
couch a few more, some nights in
shelters that had space ...