Nameless

How many times a day do you say,
"Can you spare some change?
Care to help the homeless today?"

How many days a year do you sit
On the same stretch of sidewalk
With your papers to sell or guitar to play?

How many signs have you written?
"I'll bet you a dollar you read this sign."
Or "I don't spend money on drugs."
Or simply "Smile, you're beautiful."

How many of you really are veterans or cancer survivors
When life put you in a bad place?
How many of you are starving artists by choice,
Because being a starving artist is better than being no artist at all?

What is it like to live off others' generosity
Or pity?
Does it hurt to be seen but not acknowledged,
Day after day?
You are invisible to them, except when they complain about your existence.

How do you find the strength to persevere?

I'm starting to recognize your faces.
The young man with a guitar who asked for a cup of coffee, and told me he liked my hat.
The two women with dogs who ask for subway fares.
The old grizzled man outside the pizza place.
You are not the invisible to me.

You are nameless.