The Big Issue

Every week

If I can 

I try and buy 

The Big Issue

I'm struggling myself 

Two-thirds of my paycheck

Is spent on rent

The other third covers

Food, bills, and a weekly train ticket

There's not much left 

If anything

Once it's all paid for 

But I realize 

How lucky I am

To be healthy

To be surrounded by

People who look after me

Treat me to dinner

Or a show

Or even a holiday 

I have a roof over my head

And food in my belly

And in the middle of a recession 

I have a job

That I enjoy

Brings satisfaction

And fun

Even if sometimes

It is exhausting

To be part 

Of the daily slog 

Today between Leicester Sq

And Covent Garden

I passed no less than 9 vendors

In a journey 

That takes 5 minutes by foot 

And I see these vendors

And men and women

Who are homeless 

Literally every. single. day.

People

Who for a myriad of reasons 

Have not been so lucky in life 

And need an extra hand 

And I just wish

I could offer every single one of them

A bed 

A cup of coffee 

Lunch 

A chance 

And if my £2.50 

Can make the tiniest difference

In someone's day

And allow them

To be one step closer 

To their own 

Eudemonia 

It's a difference 

Worth making   

The end.