Ray of Hope
A skinny
kid maybe
fifteen
just walked
in front
of my
van on
the hill
clutching
a paperback
a good
two inches
thick with
his index
finger jammed
in about
halfway thru
to mark
his place,
looking down
at the
ground as
he made
his way
thru the
jeers &
catcalls from
the pickup
& loud
music crowd,
heading for
the far
side of
the water
tower where
he can
be alone
& read.
He’s the
first ray
of hope
I’ve seen
in a
long time.