charity

you stop
your car and give
a homeless
man a loaf of olive
bread, still warm
from the oven
from the bakery
on the corner.
what's this, he
says. I don't want
this. he seems angry.
which startles you.
of course not
you think, staring
at his large belly,
his full red face.
his dirty hands
trembling
at his side.