The Man

This once lost poem is about a homeless man I met long ago when I went to New Orleans. I wrote it years ago, and tucked it away. Until now. Enjoy.

The Man sees the Sun
But He sees the Other Side as well
He Exists in the syrupy Slipstream between one Thought and the Next.

Delirious, with Communication and Complications,
He talks of the Power of a thousand jungle Animals.

He Bleeds and sees the Living
He Breathes and sees the Inside of the Dying
He sees the Cool inside the Hot

The Up, within the Down
The Right within the Wrong

He swims in a toxic Wonderment of Musical Currents large and small
Not knowing nor caring about the Past or Future
Only the Now

Looking, for that one Spot on Frenchman Street
Chewing the Fat while Knowing that he is S**t out of Luck with God

So, until then he`s going to do it His Way
One Drink at a Time

Author's Note

Inspired by a trip to New Orleans

Reviews

[Blue]

This is excellent. I like the theme and how professional you wrote this. You had me hooked from beginning to end. It's a good idea to draw attention to essential words by capitalizing their first letter for emphasis.

"He Bleeds and sees the Living/He Breathes and sees the Inside of the Dying" I like these lines and the philosophy behind the words. Thanks for sharing this amazing poem.

[John Ryan]

thank you :)

[Glen Yumang Manese]

The language is quite intense...as I read this work...the way you paint the scene for the reader --- puts that feel as you wrote this down...about that moment...its intricately design to get at you...would be the point...

[Sweet Brevity]

You captured it well. Those scenes in your mind's eye and delivered it back to the reader. I very much like your style here. Enjoyed this poem very much;)

[Jack Wolfe]

Hey, John, sorry for the time it took me to get to this. I really enjoyed this, and I can say I can relate; the world is a spinning sphere of enigmas, and 'The Man' is the riddle, of course it does spin faster sometimes after that fifth, sixth, and seventh drink.

[WritersRankings]

I'm very taken with this piece. It has a melancholy depth that is quite transcendent. It's epic without being preachy, a truly remarkable write.

[Persona]

Really good. I like how you think.

[Cristina]

Because of living in a german world, I also often try to capitalize words when writing in another language. I like the emphasis it gives to specific parts of this poem. Really nicely written.

[TheSweet]

I really liked this, it is well written and it is a shame when people start to see the homeless less as people. This poem gives them a reality, and very well done. Thanks for sharing :)

[Lily Mae]

This captured the essence and feel of the faces I saw when I was in New Orleans. The energy is all but nothing...and then so much more. Excellent write..xo

[Sami Khalil]

"He swims in a toxic Wonderment of Musical Currents large and small
Not knowing nor caring about the Past or Future
Only the Now"