Washington's Alleyways

My response to Meyer's Article, touching on the homeless and those who dwell in the alleyways he speaks of....

Each morning the cop car diverts from the public, crowded streets of Capital Hill into the living room of Washington's homeless. They've been stirring for hours, since the sun peaked from behind Union Station down the Mass. Ave channel and into their bedrooms. The privacy of night gives way to a public morning, as the cops arrive to make way for the public prerogative.

Their cars pull up over the grass into the center circle of Stanton Park. "Good Morning" they call over their loud speakers with a slight tint of irony, but they don't understand, not really. Steering wheel in their left hand, dunkin donuts in their right, they have the nerve to wake the peacefull to a world that views them in disgust.

Peter says "Good Morning" to me every morning from the corner of Mass Ave and 2nd, but his greeting lacks the mockery. "Happy Monday!" he continues, right hand propping him up, left wrapped around a coffee someone from the Heritage Foundation dropped off a little earlier. He used to greet us from his thrown of possessions, but ever since the city and local businesses pulled strings he no longer uses Capital Hill as his closet. He has his own closet now, but he would never abandon his post. Just like all of us rushing to work on the Hill, he has a public serve to provide.