Invisible Man
Poem by Simon // art by Samuel Rodriguez

The old man on sidewalk, he has called home
For as long as we can remember
Yah, he smells of alcohol and looks dirty
But has not lost his mind just drinks to numb the pain
Shouting to release anxiety hoping someone hears
Cause society has painted this man invisible, disposable
Still he shouts, refuses to be silenced hoping his voice may be heard
By someone who has not been baptized full of lies by mass media
For decades he has occupied the same sidewalk
Has seen under color of Authority, bad cops beating, shooting,
You name it, he has seen it by playing drunk or acting asleep
I guess it helps society has painted him invisible
Mentally ill inadmissible, maybe too many hospital rides in straight jackets
Cause he was shouting on the street corner
Otherwise he'd be dead eyewitness
So could you blame him when alcohol hits over its limits
Start to talk with himself
All of a sudden he raises his voice with his temper
Shouting at the top of his lungs
What happened from 1960 to present
Still taking tally what he sees in his Ghetto Diary