Strawberry Melon Brisk

It's a beautiful day, one of the first of the year
But no ones around, there's a pandemic to fear
With two pitbulls on leash, walking down these empty streets
The sunshine feels fine, around sixty degrees
But the vibes all wrong, like in the eye of the storm
An eerie calm silence forms, long way from the norm
I kick rocks, hit concrete, click, rest in broken sticks and brick
No echo, lost, not let go, I let it go, and look up
See a two door Chevy pickup, faded black
Busted front end, bed filled with trash
Broken old man inside, sits back
Looking like death, he takes a breath
He says, son, can I see your phone for just five minutes, I
But a truck drives past, before I hear the rest
I didn't even care, too stuck in my head
Didn't even stop walking, but I did look back
I said, sorry man, I can't, and he shook his head slow
Slumped in his seat, eyes deep in his skull
I went on my way, and he stayed in his
But it never sat right, some shit you gotta fix

Back at the house, stash the hounds, make the trip
Kicked Ironhead, twist throttle, quick rip
Rode fast not far, pipes loud for cars
Zoom past, focused, one lens, on skin and bones old man
I drop the kickstand, and park adjacent to face him
His face, painful complacent, turn key to silence and pavement
Like silent enslavement, cash loose change just to buy time
When you can't even stand,
And after all was said and done, I couldn't help the man much
Dehydrated, weak and stuck, couldn't even leave his truck
Struck, thinking is wishful, if time allows
How far do you extend your hand, when
So many without homes, circumstances unknown
Still certain he stands alone
He says you're a good man, I said no I know hurt
And I know you know worse, and I know that's not enough

That's the day I saw death when he ran out of luck
Sleeping inside a 1985 Chevy pickup truck
Traded him four iced teas, that he struggled to open
Clutched between his teeth, to have mercy on me
And in time you'll see why, when it's my time to sleep
I hope I get a few more minutes, my last taste of life
And it's because I gave death a few more sips of strawberry melon brisk