Legion

Last night at midnight

  we looked into the face

       of a homeless wretch --

    a man, living in total subjugation

        to his primal disordered brain.

With hurricane force

   he spewed raw anger,

     screaming irrationally at those

       who want to help, but can’t.

There is no shelter to contain him.

     No options. In any program. Anywhere.

Until he throws a punch,

    pulls a knife,

       jumps out a window,

he is free to wander through the night.

His name is Legion. We have seen him before.

He is gathering strength.

God bless those shelter workers

who persevere

in the face of Belial.