Neglect

A graying man seated by the water jet
a sign in his lap asking for charity,
a pen in his hand, the tip no longer wet,
his belt revealing help is a scarcity
I'm curious, so I ask him one time
why do you sit here alone with a sign,
having people toss up a nickel, a dime
isn't there some charitable hotline?
He shakes his head, surly and sour
I tried speaking, but no one had heard
so rather than waste another hour
I saved my breath and wrote this word
But your sign, I reply, says help please
I believe that is two words, isn't it?
He grimaces at my joking tease
the problem is no one else notices

A young woman enters the fray
offers the man a sandwich and turns
It's my friend who vanished one day
she says to me, you know what burns?
When you feel you have to disappear
for people to finally remember you
as if by being mute, they'd want to hear
everything, but that's just not true
wait, I interrupt, where did you go?
You felt ignored? Why the pretension?
It's your fault, you had let no one know
No, she breathed, no one had paid attention