And several beers

And cigarettes. 

 

I gave some to the homeless 

I couldn’t understand him

He was missing a fingertip 

 

And the other hugged me

I told him I had no money

And he pointed to the the ATM

 

I told him

“Hey chief I gave you a cigarette”

He broke off the tip and I won’t know why

I offered him a light but he had his own. 

He wanted cash but I gave him none. Am I a bad person. 

 

And we meandered out way to hotel room. 

I took all of

My clothes

Off

And shaved

And brushed

My teeth

 

But I still tasted the tar of camels

And the bitter beer

And very vaguely them Douglas firs and that good clean moist air and the dirt that wouldn’t come out of my fingernails and my hair. 

 

It was the wilderness I left and Baltimore 

Where I know nothing. 

I will always know nothing.