Poem Written in a Moment of Recognition As I'm Closing in on My 58th Birthday

Standing on the corner

Of 23^rd and Seventh tonight

This old guy approached

And said to me:

Hey man can you

Spare some change

To get something to eat?

I’m nearly 58

And I said to him

I am too

As if to let him

Feel equal sympathy

For poor old me

And he looked at me

And said: You look

Pretty good for 58

And I said: You too

And I meant it

As I reached in my pocket

To thank him for the compliment

And he walked away

Equally grateful

For the brief exchange