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
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Author:
Lorna (
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
Offline)
Comments10
A good writing , Lorna )
Sad that some people have to live this way ..
'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!
Thanks Mek... this subject just makes me feel hopeless about the human race...
Good write Lorna.
Thanks Orchi.... This is an awful problem.....and seems even worse at Xmas time.
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.
Oh please.... people and politics.... dare I say it .... this country is the worst.
Got some very close rivals, though.....
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.
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....
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.
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.
My heart goes out to your young self..... what an awful time for a young person....
It’s deep
Could feel the sudden coldness
When one is homeless
Quite emotive write dear Lorna
God the cold.... how do they make it through that......
Every Government highlights homelessness when they want elected. Sadly, they seem to forget that promise when they get into power.
Oh yeah....... Politicians............... fat wallets, fat mouths......
Great job, very few people understand how it feels to be in that position. Thank you.
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.
It is, but you touch on the feeling. no thanks needed.
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
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.
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