Fiercely Beautiful

I can’t remember

if I talked

to her much

the American Indian

who panhandled

Mission St.

between 5^th and 6^th

But when I did

she seemed put off

didn’t want

any of my words

didn’t even seem

to care

about any change

I dropped

in her cup.

She had a stare

beyond the place

She panhandled

or just sat

on the sidewalk

when she had

four limbs

then three

then two

the stubs of her legs

bandaged

bleeding

Then she was gone