Some Words On Being Homeless
Dempsey dumpster diving done
lunch is now complete
time once more to join my peers
who wander on the street
I chat a bit with Lady Jane
who leans upon her cart
she’s every bit of 83
God Bless her lonely heart
the Mitchell kids, Elaine and Mike,
are resting in the shade
waiting for their mom and dad
to bring them lemonade
preacher John is speaking to
a group of passerby
He shares The Sermon On The Mount
an old man starts to cry
Joe the Wino staggers past
a bottle in his hand
trying hard to make it last
though few would understand
My fellow Veteran, Dan McFee,
is selling little flags
hoping to recoup enough
to wash his faded rags
all in all a pleasant day
with little going down
which is quite a miracle
within this part of town
I only hope that I will find
a quiet place to sleep
safe enough to not be robbed
of what I choose to keep
C. Lon R. Bruso
Comments
tough poem
sounds like you right in the poem, and if it's not you've done a good job convincing me otherwise.
As far as craft it's very well done, great first line and stanza, and has the rawness of Guthrie and Carl Sandburg who wrote a lot about the homeless.
Whatever goals you might have in writing this poem, you have succeeded. We know so much about you from the little photographs you show.
There are so many magazines in every large city about the homeless. Send it to them I bet they'll publish it there!
Thank you!
i was indeed homeless for over eight years out in San Diego, California. I wasn't actually on "THe Street" but lived in the back of an old Dodge van. I did come to know and make friends with many street people though, and they were all worthy of my friendship!
I don't know how...
I have missed so many of your poems lately. I echo the thoughts of Eumolpus and say that this is really good work. Thank you for sharing your experiences and bringing some of these folks to life. ~ Gee.
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