Shirley

By Melissa Dey Hasbrook

At the corner of Michigan and Penn Aves. in Lansing, MI.

I saw Shirley
today
hospital gown worn
yesterday
her ankles swelled
unsocked
when she sat on concrete
and asked me to take her bag
across the street
wanted to catch a bus
but she couldn't stand
as she scooted forward
I saw she wet herself

she lives in a park
says she feels safer there
than the Mission
(it's for men)
and the VOA is
dangerous
she says

I told information
across the street
a woman needs help
a hospital owns wheelchairs
she wanted one to travel
five lanes of traffic