shoe shine

all day
the old man kneels
and shines shoes at the station.
his fingers
are blackened
with polish
and grime.
he spins and slides
the rag
across each pair
of wing tips, not with
love, but
with the hope
of a dollar more.
a tip, a coin to rattle
in his cup.
we all have cups,
we all have
rags
and shoes to shine.
we all kneel
to someone.