Cement Pillows

Another older poem. I used to take long walks down dark streets. I would write about what I saw. Sometimes, most times it was not pretty-

Cement pillow

 

Is where he lays his head.

The stairwell outside the Post Office is his bed.

Or the front of the AT&T building.

The Little Fish Theater on the oning outside.

Is where he sometimes reside.

Metal cart keep hold his possessions.

Where he will go next only keeps me guessing.

Sometimes he makes tarp tents.

Others are more creative in what they invent.

I saw a man sleep in the Cabrillo beach bathroom.

It stank like hell and piss.

But had plenty of room.

Alone.

By themselves.

Some body’s mother, brother, or significant other.

Lying in the cold California night.

Seems like they have lost the fight with life.

But it is just a standing eight count.

But at midnight.

By the street light.

I see them.

Lying on cement pillow.

Author's Note

Feel free to comment or leave your own story--

Reviews

[L. Edward Neale]

Great stuff! Your a class A poet brother. You capture the desolation of broken dreams with such clarity. thanks for the heads up!

[R J Askew]

Another strongly observed piece of observation from you with a clear note of compassion running through it. I think the title is great. The title stood out in my request box. Also the notion of anything about California being cold is a bit of a surprise to this Englishman. But it is not a paradise for everyone now, right? If it ever was, I suppose.

[Nath]

Very moving, touching, the way you tell these stories of perhaps individual, but certainly not single cases. But even though to many may share this fate, each is a human being with their own story:
"Somebody’s mother, brother, or significant other."
Great write!

[Priscilla Sayers]

All too often we really "see" and that is where the most important messages lie. A piece worth listening to. a wonderful depiction of how we "see".

[freelancejouster]

the meloncholiness of this is so evident and resonating. perhaps try a bit stronger adjectives, so as to make the strength and power in this that much more evident.

[Jeremy Baker]

You paint quite a despondent picture of the hidden reality that we don't like to look at. Keep shining your light into these darker places, I like what you see for us.

[Enigma]

A very interesting piece. I like it.

[Vertigoingnowhere]

Wow i freakin love this i feel the emotion flowing and lol there are no word to describe this amazing write nice job :)

[Alicia Schroeder]

It is sad to know that so many people live this way just to survive... Wonderful write.. :)

[Kenneth The Poet]

This reads like a piece Coyote would write. You have that shamanic storyteller thing going on here in this piece. Very dark, disturbing and graphic, but yet there is hope beneath I think.