the loaf of olive bread

i tried to give

a loaf of bakery baked olive bread

to the man

i see standing on the corner

every

morning

with a cardboard sign

that reads, homeless, no job,

five kids,

veteran,

dyslexic and psoriasis

he looks at me

and says,

what is this?

he's been on this same corner

for about seven years now.

i almost feel like

we're friends.

i tell him it's bread, fresh

out of the oven,

still warm

and doughy,

it cost me nine dollars

at the Great Harvest Bakery.

it's got a thick crust. amazing

loaf of bread.

i bought two loaves, but you

can have this one.

huh?

what do you want me to do

with it, he says.

i don't know,

eat it?

maybe slice it up and put

it in the oven.

put some butter on it.

goes great with a cup of coffee,

or tea.

you can use it for sandwiches too.

take a sharp knife

and cut it into

slices.

i like to use Virginia ham

and Swiss cheese on it.

a little bit of mustard.

excellent toasted or not toasted.

but you do what you want

with it, okay?

here take it.

but he doesn't take it. he waves

me to move on,

cursing under his breath,

while the line of cars

behind me start honking

their horns.