GARDENS OF THE HOMELESS

He was waiting for
light from the sky to go
from black to bone to
rose. "I came from the south,
one man says, my mama
and father taught me
how to garden. Oh God I
used to plant tomatoes,
cucumbers watermelon--all
beautiful and flowers,
squash. I pick up bottles and
cans and I be cashing
them in to buy food. I'm home-
less, not helpless. I don't
like people to come here with
cameras. You don't know
where your picture
might go, your soul. Some
times in early light I try
to forget the ones I left so I
could start all over
remembering them