Fire and Hope

i met a man today who had no face
claimed by fire
his lips, his ears, his nose
his eyes could see me
in them I.
and he reached out his hand
for me to take it
but i am afraid to take it
in case i hurt him
in case i hurt me
i am afraid
it looks so dead, waxen
unattached and
would it feel like putty pulled over bone?



i am lucky
but i have seen the unlucky ones
on the bus, in the lines, on the corner
and i know they are unlucky
when their eyes don't shine
and their lips don't move with the music
of the city
their feet scuff the sidewalk
and i call
but they won't answer.