Bum

I was within the red velvet ropes

Waiting to get into a club

Down in Chelsea.

I saw him a half a block away.

Homeless and hobbling

With all of his gear.

“He’s coming for me.”

I told my friends.

“Watch.”

“I’m telling you that he’s coming for me.”

I watched

My friends watched 

As he strode directly up to me

With purpose

Approaching nobody else.

“Son...Where have you been?  I’ve been looking all over for you.  I’m hungry.  Please

  buy me something to eat.”

I’ve had weirder things happen.

But I called this one

And I felt triumphant

Like I should be allowed

To go to the front of the line.

That didn’t happen.

I gave him five bucks

And told him I wasn’t his son

“That he wasn’t fooling anybody.  Go get something to eat.”

I waited in line

With everybody else.

My importance only noticed by a homeless man

And not the bouncer
At the front of the line.