Charles Bukowski: "helping the old"

I was standing in line at the bank today

when the old fellow in front of me

dropped his glasses (luckily, within the

case)

and as he bent over

I saw how difficult it was for

him

and I said, “wait, let me get

them. . . “

but as I picked them up

he dropped his cane

a beautiful, black polished

cane

and I got the glasses back to him

then went for the cane

steadying the old boy

as I handed him his cane.

he didn’t speak,

he just smiled at me.

then he turned

forward.

I stood behind him waiting

my turn.

"helping the old" by Charles Bukowski, from You Get So Alone at Times That It Just Makes Sense (HarperCollins, 2002). Text as posted on Poeticous.

 Art credit: "Hand of senior man leaning on walking stick," photograph by AdStock RF.