Miscreant

Jane Aiello

Miscreant

Avert your gaze.  Don your darkest sunglasses.

Fiddle with the station.  Surreptitiously check the door locks.

Pretend to be looking for something.  Important.

Clutch your IPhone, electronic self defense.

Don’t go downtown.

Re-route the GPS to avoid flyers.

Never take public transit.

There is solace in your SUV.  Safety.

Throw appeals in the trash can.

Let the second collection pass you by.

Leave nothing on your porch, the curb.

Acquire comfort in your suburb.

Shred your library card.

Subscribe to Prime, Netflix.

Steer clear of public restrooms.  

Buy expensive coffee in pretentious places.

Indulge your children that extra helping.

Neglect to teach them charity, compassion.

Usher them across the street.

Shield their eyes, cover their ears.

Harden your heart.

No strangers at your table.

There is not enough for just one more.

This is how you deny homelessness.