The Man I Met in the Tenderloin

he bled the same blood as me
crimson red
like african tea
able bodied as a boy
now rail thin
some evil ploy
reversed the places
of he and i
a grizzled beard
his one good eye
blinking fast
in a rhythmic trance
a victim of choice and circumstance
i left him there
and headed home
gave him a sweater
nicely sewn
i write these words
warm in bed
while alone tonight
he bleeds
crimson red.