Because he obviously needs it

 

Because he’s on the street and I’m in my car                                                                                   Because if I lost one dollar I would never notice                                                                           Because he’s asking for it                                                                                                                     Because I have it

 

Because his belongings are spilling out of a plastic bag and include a t-shirt and a bag of chips and some papers that look like they are going to blow away

Because his skin has the look of too much sun and the sun is out again

Because the median is small and unsafe

Because my car is big and the safest I could buy

Because we live in America and America is about buying:
food
clothes
water
a hat
a car
exercise pants
shoes
a mortgage
yoga classes
drugs
health
wine
whiskey
a shot of something:
tequila
courage
morphine
love

Because he loves someone and someone loves him

Because I love so many and they love me back and that is worth more than one dollar

I roll the window down just as the light turns green.  The line of cars in front of me moves sluggishly so he has enough time to reach my window.  He is standing in the African Irises struggling to grow in the un-irrigated median between six lanes of traffic.  He’s already expressing thanks as he reaches for the bill.  I’m creeping slowly forward, hoping the car behind me won’t lean on its horn.  Our fingers touch and there is a shock between his fingertip and mine.  I don’t know who originated the electrical charge.  I don’t know how these things work, and I suspect that nobody really knows since even scientists don’t know if lightning  originates from the earth or from the cloud.  In any case, I imagine there has been some sort of ionic or covalent bond between my atoms and his, that we are both different on a molecular level now.  I consider this as the tingle in my finger fades away, and I accelerate through the intersection.