My Bed for The Night.
It is getting late on a cold dark winter's December night.
I need to find somewhere to sleep that’s far out of sight.
Another day spent fighting the cold and the need to eat.
Walking for miles in the rain with my sore worn-out feet.
I have been down and out on my luck for a quite a while.
Getting back to where I once was before, I continue to try.
Suffer the intolerance of the public on a continuous basis.
It is getting ever harder to find safe and waterproof spaces.
I don't drink or drugs, so I avoid that part of the street crew.
I don't want to fight argue, spit and shout, I’m one of the few.
My days are spent trolling in the streets looking for a home.
I’m not fussy a wardrobe is ok as long as it's safe and warm.
The hostels are full have and waiting lists that are too long.
I’m not sure they would have me; I’ve not done any wrong.
I could never get a room or flat because I do not have a job.
So have to remain as one of the roaming and homeless mob.
I cannot get a job because I have no money and fixed abode.
For the foreseeable future the streets will be still my home.
So, I settle in the Oxfam doorway and get into my damp bag.
Then i eat the little bit of food from the day before, that I had.
I put up cardboard boxes hoping people will leave me alone.
Every day, this is my bed for the night, and this is my home.
Nataiella
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Author:
Tobani / Nataiella (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: February 10th, 2025 03:19
- Comment from author about the poem: I used to help out in a charity shop and this lovely ,man used to sleep in the doorway, i wrote this after having a cup of tea with him one day.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 49
- Users favorite of this poem: Simurgh, Cheeky Missy
Offline)
Comments13
Wow! Writen with such emotion. Glad I read you comments. Beautiful write! I know a few homeless people. Wish I could help them all but it's a struggle enough trying to help myself. Great write, my friend!
Thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated
A poem from the heart written in the first person. The plight of the homeless is a sad thing in a modern world of plenty. Sad souls with mental disorders or just bad luck they roam the streets like dogs searching for food and a place to lay their heads. In metaphor many if not all of us are such roaming an emotional and psychological world in search of a home we are all the homeless.
Thank you for your kind words, very much appreciated.
A highly poignant social commentary type of poem! It beggars belief that here in England we have more homeless than ever before! The latest available figures (for 2023-2024) show that more than 320,000 HOUSEHOLDS in England alone faced homelessness! Most households will have more than one person, of course! Also, these figures do not include the number of people who are already homeless! So sad!
Thank you for feedback, very much appreciated. Your right it beggars belief the numbers, in a country like ours there should be no homeless, enjoy the rest of your day.
there is a lot more of this about than many might imagine & sadly even local councils don't know or don't wish to know the true extent of the problem .. I still regularly do a homeless count for the local shelter often coinciding with the local authorities head count on particularly cold nights .. and on average, I find and count ten times more street homeless than them .. it makes my blood bloomin boil .. Needless to say, I am glad you touched on this raw nerve PL ..
Neville 👍
Thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated. In my area they treated like vermin and just moved wholesale from town to town, and you right, the real number is way above the so called official figures.
And right there is where it’s at. Had to sleep on the street one cold night, the coldness of being alone and invisible could have been worse than the physical weather that sent chills all through the heat of sunrise. Good stuff here.🙏🏻🕊
Thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated
You most welcome! 🙏🏻🕊️
Powerful. I love the empathy. Life is hell on the streets.
Thank you Thomas for your feedback, very much appreciated
Wonderful poem, Tobani! Written with lots of emotion and with a heart for the homeless and road side people, great work!
Much appreciated.
I found it not only beautiful but a reality spoken with beautiful words because I am myself a social worker in my city Kolkata, India and I regularly donate people on the roads asking for assistance just to live their lives.
I have also donated 300 Indian Rupees to the famous NGO of our country
Helpage providing home to the homeless, older people on roads, free treatment for people having cancer and other dreadful diseases, orphans, poor children with a intelligent brain and so on.... providing them the life of dignity and respect.
This poem holds good for our country as you know there are lots of people below the poverty line!
We are still much behind in taking out people from the poverty line, a very sad truth...
Anyways thanks again, I loved this poem a lot!! ❤️
Thank you 😊.
With regards
Simurgh
A poetic bard from India
Thank you for your very kind words, they are very much appreciated
You are most welcome, Tobani. Much appreciated!!😊✍️🤘💓💓
The homeless. We should be ashamed at the number of people sleeping on the streets. I don’t care what the reason is, it is inhumane that anyone should be out in the freezing cold weather, or any other time of year. If illegal immigrants are housed in hotels, then the homeless veterans and others deserve the very same. Your poem Tobani, so well written, touches a nerve and makes me angry.
Thank you for your comments, they are very accurate. Your opinion is always appreciated, sorry to make you angry.
Dear Tobani, not angry with you, just politicians not doing their job properly and failing to look after the most vulnerable 😢
I echo that
Wow. Standing alone sans the author's note this is a very pretty number, the additional information raising it to heights far beyond. How charmingly rendered with nigh exquisite imagery and seeming so chock full it is like a meal which would have satisfied the unfortunate soul if only words could pull that off. Hauntingly poignant on its own, your note raises it to near painfulness. Thank you so very much for sharing!
Thank you kindly for your feedback, very much appreciated.
Great write
Thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated
You're welcome
Fine words Tobani, it happens so much nowadays and those who could fix this problem of homelessness don't care.
Andy
Thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated
The spectacle of a broken society in plain view. A different world and yet we are all only half a step from the gutter.
A fine insight into a modern day outrage.😎
Thank you for your feedback, very much appreciated
Glad you listened as a way of helping-good write
Thank you for your feedback, much appreciated
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