'charity, with condition' *

'charity, with condition' * timothy r gates, 6/17/2010

'i wonder if he's going
to spend my money for drugs?'
charity,
with the condition of 'you're worth it!'
prostitute, whore monger
street merchant, peddler
gambler, stock broker
pray, prey
dervish or dirge –
when will money for a sandwich
buy dope for a syringe?
Maybe you can see,
look into the reasonings of another's heart –
show me your intents, if you can see so clearly?
From a hill side,
'Blessed are the merciful....'
in the place of,
'turn the other cheek,'
in fear of being fucked.
I wonder,
'is that number on her wrist is
from prison?'
I wonder,
'do they fear that i'll
roll them?'
I wonder,
'if i was them
would they not toss me two bucks?'
Auschwitz is before my face always,
though i only see my own
holocausts on most days.
I wonder,
'in the camps,
would i share my cup?'

*For another unique perspective on 'being' and 'personhood' look at the beginning of this poeme, by Thich Nhat Hahn, http://www.quietspaces.com/poemHanh.html or http://www.earthlight.org/earthsaint26.html , or for more, http://www.mindfulnessnyc.org/index_files/poems.htm