No Home

Lorna



If I sit with you on concrete

Warm myself with blasts of precious heat

Rising from unyielding subway grills

Put newspapers round my chest

And on the ground of cardboard home

Eat half sandwiches of strangers

Pull my hat low over my eyes

To hide the ever present shame

That takes on a persona all its own

If I add to this my overflowing tears

To those you no longer think to weep

Would that take away my guilt and anger

Could understanding ever help me sleep

  • Author: Lorna (Offline Offline)
  • Published: December 2nd, 2021 04:41
  • Comment from author about the poem: Have read other entries lately about homelessness and so it's been on my mind......
  • Category: Reflection
  • Views: 48
  • Users favorite of this poem: L. B. Mek, Garth Rakumakoe.
Get a free collection of Classic Poetry and subscribe to My Poetic Side ↓

Receive the ebook in seconds 50 poems from 50 different authors Weekly news

Comments10

  • Violet bluebell( used to be yellow rose)

    A good writing , Lorna )

    Sad that some people have to live this way ..

  • L. B. Mek

    'Pull my hat low over my eyes
    To hide the ever present shame
    That takes on a persona all its own
    If I add
    to this, my overflowing tears
    To those
    you no longer think, to weep
    Would that take away: my guilt'..
    Brilliant!

    • Lorna

      Thanks Mek... this subject just makes me feel hopeless about the human race...

    • orchidee

      Good write Lorna.

      • Lorna

        Thanks Orchi.... This is an awful problem.....and seems even worse at Xmas time.

      • Doggerel Dave

        It ain't easy out there, Lorna - should be on everyone's mind, not just yours.

        Political systems are brutal - even in our so called Liberal Democracies.

        Neat write.

        • Lorna

          Oh please.... people and politics.... dare I say it .... this country is the worst.

          • Doggerel Dave

            Got some very close rivals, though.....

          • Garth Rakumakoe

            Loaded with so many unasked questions, mainly though, how we live with ourselves as a society... Burning questions in those lines attempting to drown guilt and shame. A humane favorite.

            • Lorna

              Thanks Garth.... Society being a mass of people all together is very dangerous and seems to sink to the lowest level...... and the guilt for me is that by writing a few lines I haven't changed a thing....

              • Garth Rakumakoe

                I hear you Lorna. Much as I agree with your sentiment, it also takes words like these to hold a mirror to society's passive face, otherwise we remain complicit. It may not be everything, but it is a step. A lot more does need to be physically done, I agree completely.

              • dusk arising

                This is a sad reflection on the type of society we exist in. A situation that just will not go away and the reasons people live like this are hugely varied. There is no easy solution. They exist in a dangerous sub culture with its own rules and savage punishments.
                In my tender years I became homeless and for several months lived on the streets sleeping wherever. There are heroes and villans, just as in all society.

                • Lorna

                  My heart goes out to your young self..... what an awful time for a young person....

                • spilleronsheet

                  It’s deep
                  Could feel the sudden coldness
                  When one is homeless
                  Quite emotive write dear Lorna

                  • Lorna

                    God the cold.... how do they make it through that......

                  • Paul Bell

                    Every Government highlights homelessness when they want elected. Sadly, they seem to forget that promise when they get into power.

                    • Lorna

                      Oh yeah....... Politicians............... fat wallets, fat mouths......

                    • alsimmons

                      Great job, very few people understand how it feels to be in that position. Thank you.

                      • Lorna

                        Well Al I can only try to understand having been lucky enough not to be in that situation - I'm sure it's even worse .... thanks for the comment.

                        • alsimmons

                          It is, but you touch on the feeling. no thanks needed.

                        • Goldfinch60

                          Good words Lorna.
                          In this world where many have so much but will not help others who have nothing is so appalling.

                          Every week when I went into town I used to talk to a guy sitting on the street and would give him some money but there was no ways that I could pull him out from the awful position he was in, there are many who allegedly govern us who could help him.

                          Andy

                          • Lorna

                            When I was very young and working in New York City I passed a guy every day and when I got paid used to give him money but then one day I saw him drinking himself into oblivion - so he probably bought liquor instead of food.... so I wasn't helping him there either. It's got to be through an agency I guess..... they need help in so many ways.



                          To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.