charity

the man at the pot
in front of the store has arrived
early.

two weeks before
thanksgiving.

he's wearing a Christmas
costume
of some sort. red with white
trim.

he rings a bell incessantly.
hello.
hello.
hello.

he chants to the open air,
to anyone walking
by
with their lists, their
carts,
their minds
elsewhere.

the ringing never stops.
you drop a dollar
in.

some change. only two
more months
of ringing to go.