Do you care as much

Do you care as much

For me

As I might care for you

Whether we meet

Pass each other in the street

With barely a glance

Enveloped in our own

Internal wrangles

Make tumbleweed connections

Air kissing

At sanitised meetings

Brushing fingertips

In greeting

Eyes locked for

Less time than it takes to linger

Over a response

To an unspoken request to engage

In a significant interaction

With a stranger

Where is the danger

In reaching out

With more than a charitable

Donation

To the needy

Do you believe

To demand recognition

Is greedy

She tosses her hair disdainfully

It might need a wash

He gurns intermittently

Picking at dry skin

On bony arms

Knees trembling

Either he is over medicated

Or frightened

Occasionally it will be both

They act as if they know you

But how can they

When it is such a struggle

To know yourself

Everyday

You pass this way

They are both there

Him with the arms

Her with the hair

Are they together

What do they do

For the rest of the day

Where do they sleep

Do they work

To earn their keep

Will the bus come

Before you are forced

To make some form of

Contact

And speak

How difficult would that be

Get ready…no

Just look the other way

Or maybe…

Ask if they are okay

Perhaps

Make this a better day

For both of them

As well as for

You and me

How hard can it be?