Pretending (@ 4th & King Street Station)

He preached, begged, coiled, screamed,

teached, said: unspeakable things.

The receiver melted in his tight grasp

as those around heard, “At last, at last!”

Tears of joy flowed down his beard,

muffled sobs masked behind his cheers.

The payphone smiled wearing child’s teeth,

keys zero and one detached with relief.

Suddenly he jerked, waking from a dream,

pulled his cart closer for his soul to lean.

The cord long gone, the muted phone fell—

the old man back to his daily hell.