7535. LESSER OUTAGE REQUIRED

LESSER OUTAGE REQUIRED

The old guy said he couldn't see good anymore;

and he just kept wandering around. I'd see him

on 8th, then I'd see him on 12th two hours later.

Streets were good to an elder like him. Cart man,

he said, gave him something to eat now and then.

Coffee. Some black stew from something left.

Those days, there were still some horse guys

walking the downtown streets  -  the clomp, 

clomp, of a chestnut cart, the good smell of 

that old fire. I knew direction by the scent 

I followed. Outside the armory, whatever 

that is, 25th. 26th. That's where they said

he finally keeled over, muttering some

ancient names of something. I was sad,

but since I was only 18, little cared.

Things go like that, sometimes,

Less and less required.