I Think I Caught

I think I caught time
Lingering
Hanging out
With the meth heads
On the streets of Northhampton

They were trying to blend in
Trying to be unseen
Yet I watched
And everyone who came near them
Became uncomfortable
Averting their eyes

They smiled
Laughed
Pounded each other on the backs

The jokes they told seemed funny
Through my windshield
On this frigid cold February day

They were young
And not so young
Tarnished dull by life
Hopping around to stay warm
Laughing
As if a big joke
With a great punch line
Had just been told

I tried to feel sorry
Tried to feel sorry for their cold
Their cigarette stubs and almost empty beers
I Tried to feel sorry for
The way they
Made others
Don invisible blinders

But I couldn't

I couldn't muster the compassion
That I normally have
For those in need

I felt angry
Waiting
Waiting in my warm car
For my wife to come back

I think I caught
Time
Getting me to glance quickly
In my rear view mirror
Heading back to Vermont
Where the cold of winter
Is more hidden
Somewhere beyond my walls
And my dog quietly snores
As I am up again far too late thinking about these things
Far too late