I keep seeing people who should be dead <br />They're not be in the morgue yet <br />I don't see why <br />What is keeping them moving breathing <br /> <br />My most recent sighting was <br />Just to the right of the front door <br />Of The San Francisco <br />Main Library <br /> <br />The Swig family and other old and new <br />Monied San Franciscans <br />Campaigned and fundraised <br />To pay for large rooms with their names <br /> <br />The library's many floors have decor <br />It even has a small deli <br />If you can pay for self-service coffee <br />Or the sandwich of the day <br /> <br />As you walk in off the street <br />You are greeted by <br />Large open space <br />Friends' of the Library Book Sales <br /> <br />Back outside in the cold <br />Just to the right of the front door <br />Stood a breathing <br />Dead person <br /> <br />There is no reason <br />I can see why <br />This person is still alive <br />What's keeping him upright <br /> <br />He's wearing grey sweatpants <br />Recently pissed in <br />Mismatched sneakers no socks <br />Ankles with blue black and red running sores <br /> <br />He's wearing a light long-sleeved shirt <br />I'm cold in my heavy sweater over my shirt <br />He put down his two plastice bags <br />Pulled out a bottle of vodka <br /> <br />Two big gulps saved some for later <br />I don't expect him to have a later <br />But off he walks steady on his feet <br />The seat of his wet pants facing me <br /> <br />The seat of his wet pants <br />Baffling me why is he still alive <br />Where does he sleep eat get warm <br />When and when in the hell will he die<br /><br />Tom J. Mariani<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/03-25-2010-how-in-the-hell-are-they-still-standing/
