I spotted Henry on the comer <br />so I joined him <br />then we both stood there waiting. <br />Henry’s pants were too long <br />and dragged on the ground, thus tattered <br />and his shirt was buttoned haphazardly. <br />He graduated from South Shore HS in ‘67 <br />must have been there with me but we never met. <br />I asked if I could take his picture. <br />He asked if I was the man <br />who took the picture of Vinnie the Tongue. <br />I said I was the man <br />then told me Vinnie had passed. <br />Suddenly his white tongue shot out <br />asking if he could replace him <br />and be called Henry the Tongue <br />said it was OK by me <br />and began to take his picture <br />but he quickly put his shirt over his head <br />so I couldn’t photograph his face <br />finally informing him, <br />“You’ll never be called Henry the Tongue <br />if you don’t let me take your picture.” <br />The shirt stayed on. I clicked away <br />and after seven snaps gave him a dollar <br />which calmed him down. <br />Henry had last worked in ‘72 <br />as a messenger but now subsisted <br />on the generosity of passers by <br />never having sought Welfare. <br />John Guth appeared staring at the headless lad. <br />“What’s wrong with Henry? ” he asked. <br />“Can’t take the pressure of life.” <br />“He think a shirt over his head’s gonna help.” <br />“John, ” I said somberly, “who knows.”<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/defying-sudden-destruction/
