the experiment

standing astride the experiment
he looked like just another bum
with a midnight soul
and lighthouse eyes
The Feed the Children bucket loomed large
while the ten-spot danced a sirens allure

in his pockets were a stack of other Ten's
100 dead presidents on a baited hook
that could give life
if others gave of themselves
and he watched and waited
hoping his jaded heart would be wrong

puerile gangbanger with evil colors
snatches the ten, buries it in boxers
RavenBlack haired young mother
with five ducklings in tow
looks at them, then her cross on neck
with hesitant hands thanks the cross
and gently tucks the Ten in a tattered pocket
Gucci-loafered with meta-quaffed hair
boldly snaps the ten into his wallet
with nary a second thought,
diamond rings glittering their obscenity
on his JpaulGetty-stained fingers

the bum with lighthouse eyes then
shed melted hot tears from frozen lament

because these were the only exceptions
that kept a strangers money
out of 100 opportunities for parsimonious greed

the rest . . .
Fed the Children