Spare Change

Spare Change

we'd be
in the city
and sometimes
i'd give the bums
change
and sometimes
i wouldn't
even when
we both knew
i had
plenty of change
to spare

sometimes
i could be
mildly
benevolent
while other times
mildly
or even more
of an asshole

in the same way
i'd never
spit on a bum
nor steal from him
thieving
his books
his dog
or the shit
from his backpack
likewise
i'd never
kid myself
into thinking
he'd ever be invited
off the street
and into
my home

when we 
were together
she'd always
give the bums
some spare change
without ever
needing to explain
why

i guess that's why
she was better than me
and part of the reason
we find our ourselves
apart
since i can't understand
why she doesn't think
about
giving away
spare change
and she doesn't understand
why i 
have to