thin line

He looked down the whole time
first at the ashtray outside the bar
gathering butts, even those with just one drag left

When offered a cigarette
he looked at it only
too embarrassed
to meet the eyes of the offerer

Humiliated with the offer of a five dollar bill
yet with no one around
and the encouragement of
“I’ve been there”
he looked up and smiled
with a face of hope
even with his shopping cart
home in the distance

what a thin line it really is