The Silent Statue

She never said a word.  She would not beg.

A forlorn figure; huddled,

pride smothering skin and bones 

wrapped in designer garbage.

Her chapped hands offering a cracked cup.

She was always there.  A human statue.

A landmark crumpled atop a cardboard box.

Annie.  Orphan Annie. We called her that.

She never knew she had a name.

When we walked by we never saw her.

No one ever stopped except those

who knew intimately her closet friend.

The one who shared the bitter cold nights,

whose low growl became a loud rumble

the voice of Hunger

echoing endlessly through hollow space.

Silence, stunned, clung alone to the street corner today.

Grief engulfed newspaper clad faces riding the ell...

"Annie.  Where's Annie?  Have you seen Annie:"

traveled desperately from seat to seat.

Sorrow stared from disbelieving eyes...

The same eyes that never saw her when they passed by.

Reviews

[Carolynn]

This was a really powerful punch kinda poem :) from the pride of the starving (once wealthy girl) who refuses to beg for anything - instead chooses to starve to death to those all around her not seeing her need for help - ignoring her until she's dead and gone and then feeling ashamed and falsely grieving her just because! Makes you wonder - this was sad but in a good way :)

[Cyndy Robinson]

Thank you so much for your kinds words!

[M.Babu]

This is such a suffocating write - in that, in retrospect it reminds the reader of their likewise 'selective blindness' to Annie's plight. We see that which we don't approve of all around us, yet when the time arises to take action - any action - we mostly choke and act surprised when our 'Annie' is no more.
Such an inspiring write!!
~M.Babu~

[Cyndy Robinson]

Suffocating, I like that word. Life can be suffocating. Even in a review you are poetic. That word might just inspire me to write something.

[M.Babu]

Take it from a writer uninspired for a complete week - JOT AWAY!! :D

[richieb]

You have captured the essence of being homeless and the blinding perspective of society. '' Pride smothering skin and bones", accurate imagery of the suffering. " Orphan Annie", local celebrity of the lost and lonely only capturing sympathy when she is gone. Cyndy, your poem is powerful and sadly full of the painful truth. Thank you, Richie.

[Cyndy Robinson]

Thank you Richie!