A Panners’ Perspective

Several months ago I felt lead to go to The Market and to bring along a certain friend. So, I called her and she agreed to join Steve and me. I had no idea what to expect and we went completely open to the leading of the Spirit…fun!!!

It was a cold night and we’d decided to get a hot drink before we started walking around. Steve found a parking spot in the middle of the Market. We headed for Starbucks and immediately saw a guy in a wheelchair.
No beating around the bush here.
I laughed nervously, not sure what to do. We walked past and immediately saw another guy. He was playing his guitar, the case left open for donations. We walked past. It was cold and we hurried. Then, my friend says, “Why don’t we ask him if he wants a coffee?”
Yes! I knew instantly that that was it! “Let’s ask them both,” I said.
So, shivering we turned back.

With two orders we made our way to Starbucks. Then we saw another guy. He was sitting outside Chapters doors and as we approached he turned to look at us. We stopped and chatted. He said that he wrote and sold his poetry. He recited a couple and they were good! We told him that and he invited us to purchase. There was a base price plus whatever we felt the work was worth. Earlier, I’d asked him for his favourite and we bought that plus another poem. We took his coffee order and left him scribbling poems on ripped up cardboard with a big black marker.

Here is his favourite:

A Panners’ Perspective

Just walk on by me, not hearing what I said,
Just totally ignore me; I might as well be dead,
I could sit here all day well in to the dark of night,
It doesn’t mean you’ll see me; you don’t have the insight,
I don’t have a job, or any where to live,
I try not to be obnoxious and say thank you when people give,
I really don’t want to be here, begging in this way,
So a kind act or word, could really make my day,
Not all of us are drunkards or addicts or insane in the head,
But I made this bed I lay in, that’s all that needs to be said.

Crazzy Dave