Charles
Insanity prevails on the corner of 4th and 23rd
A decrepit and ailing residence
Aged beyond repair
Stands in stark contrast to neighboring homes
Shrubs march up the sides of the house
Growing in a boundless formation
Clinging to wooden batting is thick moss
The cracks in the glass acquired from neighboring children
Remain amidst inclement weather
Charles is the proprietor of this home
He pecks in his yard like a chicken
In his dairy boots, cutoff jeans and a wife beater
A pronounced limp beckons attention
His beard holds remnants of his last meal
He rummages in refuse
Tinkers on trucks permanently disabled
And grows a garden of weed
Carlos, his Rottweiler stays chained
Cheap beverage cans stack up like boxes
Eighty living as fifty
In the evening ladies of the night
Enter his cosmos
Some missing teeth, some missing attire
It is said that he lost his parents at twelve
Left an orphan he became a mechanic
At the age of twenty-five
A car accident took his awareness
And the right to a left leg.
Charles may not be fit to live
But he lives fit for himself
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Author:
Katie B. (
Offline) - Published: December 23rd, 2025 03:58
- Category: Short story
- Views: 11
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett
Offline)
Comments5
A vivid and colorful description of a life set in metaphor as well as living description. This man is a metaphor itself of life at a certain level of existence not living but existing. Nicely written and a fave
Thank you so much, I was unsure on this one.
It is out of uncertainty that greatness often sprouts and in the shadow of doubt creativity can grow. You are most welcome
Your poem "Charles" explores the themes of neglect, resilience, and the impact of trauma on an individual's life. It portrays the life of Charles, a man living on the fringes of society, highlighting his struggles, eccentricities, and the ways he has adapted to his circumstances.
As always, thank you Friendship for your astute observations.
Leave he be, as long as he isn't hurting anybody.
Why do I say that? He sounds a little like me.
what a beautiful poem and strong words WELL WRITTEN
Clever description of this man Katie.
Andy
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