Keep Entregando

keep "entregando" *

I was riding the subway into town,

reading a news magazine,

singing a tom waits tune in my head.

not much going on

but my usual turmoil.

there was not much to look at but the neon sign that signaled the stations

they were usually out of whack,

(just like a lot of things in the city.)

there was a steady silence that blended in well

with the hum of the tracks.

the air was thick and reeked of perfume

then he walked in from the next train,

he was “entregando”.

his voice immediately shattered all silence…

his appearance captured all attention.

and he said once again, “sigo entregando”.

he walked, he yelled, selling his pens, his coloring books, his guide to city streets,

which bus you have to take to get to....

his shoes were worn and his sweater did little to cover the huge lump in his throat.

I had seen him many times before and it seemed as if each time

it was harder and harder to make his sentences understood.

but still he tried to sell his one peso army knife,

his three pairs of socks for 2 pesos,

his 5 peso ginzu knife set.

he walks by not having sold anything.

on the next train he keeps “entregando”

*keep handing out

Paul Perry