It begins in desperation. Food and water is first. You give up the "daily" shower. Applying for work requires extraordinary effort to find a welcome place, a change of clothes, lunch, soap.

A jug is taken from the trash to carry enough water in the 95º heat.

To carry a sleeping bag is to carry a cross. So you "borrow" a shopping cart. From there on out, you can be arrested at any time.

The food you find can be iffy. Consume it now, or it will make you sick hours later in the heat.

Sweat and its odor becomes the barrier between you and the "public". But, it makes no difference. In broad daylight no one sees you anyway. It complicates the mind.

©2018 Jim Rode at Friday Night Art in OKC

For you to display this for others will be known to God.

And I remain, a coward to the homeless around me.

Jim Rode ©2018

Friday Night Art