How To Tell

How To Tell

Hitting the lit crossroads I see Poverty:
her: cross legged
blanket covered
multi-layered clothes-
barely warm still.
She speaks to a "City Ambassador"
(It says so on his jacket, while on one knee)
They speak,
him asking her what she wants.
"Release," she says,
"release,"
something to end all of this:
her,
and the people around her.
It could all go away she says.
Perhaps forever.
I stand listening
waiting for the white man to grant me crossing.
I should act:
bending down,
both her and the ambassador
bewildered-
as I kiss her.
Lips locked.
Teeth clashing.
Saliva mixing.
Permanence.
I stand again,
tears welling as I speed my way across,
the hand flashing red,
but pacing faster anyways- away.
She stands- all smiles- screaming- waving:
"That's how we'll save the world boy!
With love.
With love!"
Walking faster- harder;
need to wipe it all away-
need to get away-
how to tell a girl she now has hepatitis C?

-Matthew Koutzun