downtown on a bitter blizzard Monday
a street person rose from his pavement
and smilingly handed his woolen toque
to a tearful woman rushing past
covering her ears

she recoiled from the offer, detoured
around him to escape
and sped up the last leg of her ordeal
to her place of work, a tinted glass tower

the street person donned his toque
returned to his post on the pavement
and the businesswoman reached her safe shelter

02/07/2004