The Daily Poem Poetry Collection

Take Wing

Take Wing

I stopped for lunch at K-F-C;
I’m not a fan but what the heck.
I scanned the menu. I could see
a list of parts (except the neck).

I ordered “Crispy, hold the spice;”
a 4 piece box would be just fine.
Seemed like a good deal, for the price,
and so I sat, prepared to dine.

That’s when this homeless guy came by
and stood there staring at my food.
He waved a bit to catch my eye;
annoying and extremely rude!

As he stared, with head atilt,
I looked but there was no retreat.
I couldn’t check my liberal guilt.
I motioned him to take a seat.

Unwashed, his hands were raw and rough,
and so I said, “Point at a piece”
hoping that one would be enough
and somehow garner my release.

He ate the breast and then the thigh
and pointed, once more, at the meal.
The guilt stayed on so, with a sigh,
I said, “One more. It's no big deal!”

Before his hand could even budge
I added, “Listen! Here’s the thing …
I am not one to hold a grudge …
unless you only leave the wing!”

He smiled a toothless smile at me.
He said to me, “You’ve been too kind.
I was seeking generosity.
It’s by your actions you’re defined.”

He handed me an envelope
filled with hundred dollar bills!
“It’s only cash – but you give me hope
that together we can heal man’s ills.”

With a laugh, he waved and walked away
but paused saying, “Just one more thing …
share the lesson you learned today
and, thanks, I’ll take that chicken wing!”

An entry for the January 16th round of "The Not-So-Daily Poem" 
Prompt: Visit the port of your favourite WDC poet and choose a poem of theirs. Use the title, but write something completely different to the original poem.
Author: Ben Langhinrichs
Poem: "Wordhouse" 
Poetry Form: Quatrain  
Line Count: 40