On sundays I see him
trudging up the beach
armed with
a jangling
plastic bag.

He tramps
from dustbin
to dustbin
groping
to reach the bottom

in search of empty tins
to fill up his bag
in the hopes
of being paid
a measly 20 rand

(less than what I paid
for the bitter
almond coffee
whose taste
I couldn't stand

so I tipped
the rest
into the bushes
and threw the container
in the bin)

©Anneshiningstar2020
05/12/20