Huddled miserably in the cold morning rain
Faint glow of cigarette in cupped hand
Cobwebs of sleep hanging on tired eyes
Human muscle waiting impatiently
For the arrival of the boss man
Some will get work for a few hours
Some will go hungry for another day
A shrill blast of the horn startling the men
Chests puffed out, need to look good and strong
This here ain’t a place for the week or infirm
“I need five who can lift a hundred pounds”
Twenty-five step forward, able or not
Human merchandise ready for inspection
Ready to do back breaking work for only
A few hours at less than minimum wage
Trying to hide their disappointment, the leftovers
Huddle again with diminished hope waiting for
Another truck of salvation, a chance to
Earn a few dollars to feed their families
But today their children will be starving
-
Author:
Alfred Peyer (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: January 19th, 2018 02:16
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 33
- User favorite of this poem: Aislinn Wilson.
Offline)
Comments7
Good write Fred. It's a miserable existence for some.
Similarly, I see some homeless sitting out in all weathers. They are either genuinely homeless, or determined cheats just begging.
You know Orchie, there is a world of difference between day workers and the homeless. These guys are trying to earn a living, offering hard work. You are right, even though you cannot throw everybody into the same bucket, some of the homeless are trying to take advantage of you.
Thanks Fred. I understand. Man's inhumanity to man. With those who are homeless, the ones that are cheating just make it worse for those who are genuine.
This is very true for many in a world where there is enough for all but those with will not give to those without!
Good write Fred.
Thanks Goldie, I only saw dayworkers waiting for a job once. But it left an impression.
I saw a programme last night about the Liverpool dockers a century ago lining up hoping to be chosen that day - we have so much to be grateful for being born when we were.
Thanks Michael, you are right, we do have a lot to be grateful for. In the old days dock workers did line up waiting for jobs. Today, there are day workers lining up to get jobs as farm workers. I guess, with all the damage Trump is doing, these too will be a sign of the past.
There's a kind of nobility in how hard most men try to feed their families. The older I get the more the ultra rich disgust me.
Thanks sr, am with you all the way!
A well written portrayal of the desperation and nobility of those who offer themselves as beasts of burden to feed a family or to simply survive. Great write, Fred!
Thanks Louis, life is not easy for the majority of humans. Millions of children go hungry every day, and instead of addressing hunger, education, our government spends millions building a wall on the border to Mexico. Talk about stupidity!
To say this has powerful imagery is really the least I can say
Thanks Aislinn, since I am not as good with words as are many here on MPS, I have to make up for it with imagery! 🙂
Don't undersell your ability with words, though!
touching everyone's heart who has a heart towards your poem. a tender write and you covered it really well, in FredPeyer, style.
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