Alone

Fluttering in the spring breeze
heart beats too fast
arms tired

took effort to stay afloat
on air currents
so hard against the pull
of gravity

yet, learning to fly was easy
in the scheme of things
had a to-do list
with items checked
everything went as planned

until momentum lost
a broken wing, broken eggs
wandering in strange terrain
family, friends and future misplaced

best efforts no longer made a difference
success however fleeting
floated beyond
consciousness
curled up under freeway overpass
no footpath to lead home again
wandered near city hall

cold days brought compassion,
a cup of coffee,
bills instead of change
handed or tossed
counted all the same
street lights flickered
nighttime came too soon

huddled near the dumpster
under a plastic bag
waited for the sun to shine again
nothing left to give
drifted off to sleep.