Good Deeds
That yellow duffle bag was always on her shoulder sometimes light, sometimes heavy.
“What you got in that bag sweetie?” The Stranger asks looking at her shoulder.
Head down, earphones in, she just waved hi, oblivious to what was asked.
The Yellow Duffle bag she holds close to her heart,
as it represents more than an accessory piece.
At the same time every Thursday in Bellway park, three benches from the pond,
She fiddles in the yellow duffle bag rearranging contents.
He walks up and sits next to her, no hello, no expression,
just a body moving through the day.
A bag is handed off and he leaves.
She comes in hot,
Ranting about the kids throwing their balls and making too much noise.
Frustrated she grabs the bag and vanished within seconds.
Hand and hand father and daughter sit on the bench peacefully.
The little girl hands her a fist full of dandelions and smiles.
The father takes the two brown paper bags and says, “Thank you.”
The yellow duffle bag is seen and known by few,
The yellow duffle bag provides meals in the park.
The yellow duffle bag is there to feed, be a good deed,
and a conversation piece, sometimes good, sometimes bad, among the curious.
©Nichole Nichole
This makes me think of a hitch hiker I picked up once. He carried a large scruffy duffel bag and was dressed otherwise immaculately. I was curious so asked him what was in the bag. He seemed annoyed at my asking and replied, none of your fucking business. I was like okay, whatever. So we went on a little further and my buddy who was with me asked him what was in the duffel bag as he too was curious now. He got the same answer as I did. Anyway, we pulled off to a rest area and he got out to use the restroom leaving the duffel bag in the car. So we drove off.