Impromptu Prophet

Behind the Arco Station
the homeless man makes a breakfast
of mustard greens and miners lettuce
that grow in the open field
the city hasn’t tamed.
He pounds the greens on
the improvised cutting board of curb,
depositing mash into
a cup steaming with hot water.
An improbable gourmet,
an impromptu prophet who says
the meaning of life is:
a sunny day, a field of greens,
a cup of hot water that the kid
gave away this morning for free.