Needs

"Do you know an
empty garage
I could use? That's all I need,
just a small one,"
he said.

I looked at what Manuel was wearing --
shabby shoes and worn trousers,
white t-shirt,
turqoise polo shirt,
his brown tweed sportcoat;

and his Von's
grocery cart
full
of his meager
possessions:

a blanket,
a second pair of trousers,
a spare sportcoat,
and two or three boxes
full of his papers and notes--

and was
thunderstruck
at the frugal
statement
of his simple needs.

I became
ashamed
at all I wanted
and thought
I needed.