Just Look the Other Way

sun bounces off
a statue
of a little girl
she holds a tiny crane
in her outstretched hand
she beams up at it
behind this monument
to peace and happiness
a man sleeps
on the wet ground
he wears
a ratty parka
and lies in his old
blue sleeping bag
the sun doesn't shine
on him
why?
I don't know
all around
there are people
who walk quickly
heads down
they could stop
they could
take the man home
give him food
and a shower
then send him
on his way
but no
they just
look
the
other
way
it's his own fault
they say
to rid themselves
of guilt
what if someone did stop?
would things change?
after all
it's just one man
what would happen?

a girl staggers
out of an alley
tears are flowing
down her cheeks
she clutches her thin jacket
around her bony frame
what happened to her
in that alley
that could make
her looks so terrible?
there really is
no question
they all know
the people who walk
right by
as she slides down
the brick wall
of a building
she's lying
on the sidewalk
sobs shaking
her small back
but they walk right by
just
look
the
other
way
and it will go away