Starving Artist on Kinnikkinnick

In Milwaukee in 1977 the winter was
a deep freeze of uncompromising darkness.
I ate in the weird little cosmos of George Webb’s greasy counter and booth establishments, on a level
with White Castle, no, maybe they were swanky compared to White Castle.
They catered to people with no money, you could get a
burger or eggs really cheap,
and refills on the coffee.
Once I was sitting in a miserable state of mind
feeling lonely
but I said a quiet Grace before my plate.
A man saw me pray, he paid for my food, I was blown
away with gratitude because it meant I had two more dollars to go toward my next meal.
In those days I sang “The Boxer” because I understood
“seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go.”

[Kinnikkinnick is a street in Milwaukee. The definition is a smoking mixture used by North American Indians as a substitute for tobacco or for mixing with it, typically consisting of dried sumac leaves and the inner bark of willow or dogwood.]