Unexpected Poem 1 & 2

Unexpected Poem 1

behind them 
I pretended to aim at the white

Hollywood

sign in the hills,
I clicked off a few shots

the two men changed direction, 
turned toward the traffic 
and waited

they saw me looking,
can you spare some money brother?

I nodded, 
can I take your picture?

they nodded, stood closer together

the big fella flashed a peace sign, 
behind the V of his jacket 
an American flag

I took out my wallet, 3 dollars there,
one each I said

and the little guy who was still
sort of smiling, asked,
“will I be in the newspaper?”

Unexpected Poem 2

I was waiting at Union Station
an elderly man 
homeless in his yellow cap
sat down next to me
talking, continuously 
he was talking
and at first I didn’t understand

this wasn’t some usual
drunken-mumbling

his speaking, its expression
crazy or not 
cut right through the stale
subway air—
it became clear
that this, maybe all of it 
was for a person quite specific

and maybe he believed
just enough that 
they would walk together again