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Waypoints

An Online Literature and Art Journal

Tokyo Homeless Ministry

Under the city bridge, we sang Amazing Grace,
how sweet a sound, that saved a wretch like me—

The men were seated in even dirt rows, silently
waiting for the meals they believed would save them.

In my purse, a red bean cake expired
from perpetuated virginity.

Some of the men wore tattering suits,
the reminder of former achievements.

Once they were fed, they climbed
onto their bicycles, full of empty cans, and drove.

One man took his bag of rationed bread and stepped
away into an empty field. He approached a crowd

of young ducks, broke off a piece of his weekly allowance
and crumbled it to dust. They gathered to his offering.

Oh, that my hands too would be Christ-hands,
that I would break my body for you.

 

Meg Eden‘s work has been published in various magazines, including BODY, Drunken Boat, Mudfish, and Rock & Sling. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and received second place in the 2014 Ian MacMillan Fiction contest. Her collections include “Your Son” (The Florence Kahn Memorial Award), “Rotary Phones and Facebook” (Dancing Girl Press) and “The Girl Who Came Back” (Red Bird Chapbooks). She teaches at the University of Maryland. Check out her work at: https://www.facebook.com/megedenwritespoems.