Morning Walk in the Neighborhood

 

From a half-block away

I noticed a young woman sitting on a cement stoop

in front of a house converted into apartments.

 

Beside her, two suitcases,

and a large black trash bag

likely full of belongings.

 

She was moving. Or traveling.

Waiting for a ride.

 

Her right elbow rested on her right knee,

right jaw rested on her hand,

her head turned away.

Everything about her body language

came down to one word for me:

resigned.

 

As I got closer I heard a male voice.

Talk radio, I guessed. It had

the accusatory tone telling of someone

being in the wrong.

 

Then I saw that the disembodied voice

was a man sitting in the darkened stairwell,

behind her, reciting a list

of all her faults, as he saw them.

 

She was leaving.

Good girl.

~ Cheryl Unruh