we’ve paid our money
watched the show
listened to the performers
enjoyed ourselves
we drink free wine
eat too much free pizza
talked about situations
we’ve never faced
and as i leave he lays there
partially hidden in the opening in the wall
he raises his arm
is he trying to catch my attention?
is it a last act of defiance to a
world that has been cruel o him?
his home a concrete bunker
is this the last place he will
breathe the fresh crisp air of a summers evening?
all i can do is turn away from him
walk past this bundle of flesh and bones
and immediately reflect on
what i could have done
what i should have done
to give him a glimmer of hope
that in this unforgiving world he inhibits
there is still some humanity
as i drive home away from him
i depress the accelerator pedal
to get away from him
to get away from the situation
get away from my feelings of guilt
of what i could have done
of what i should have done
The Autistic FellRunner 