At 5:09, 14 minutes to train time
corner of 34th and 7th
a voice shouts
“One penny! One penny for the homeless!
Just one penny!”
From my suit pocket
I pull a dollar coin
Drop it into
his battered plastic jug
crowds pushing and streaming around us.
“Thank you, Beautiful!” the man calls, then
renews his cry, “One penny for the homeless!
Just one penny!”
I hurry into Penn Station
buy my bargain 50 cent Times
make the 5:23 with time to spare
and head home.
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