Jane

I am featuring this because of the severe winter weather happening in most of the USA I thought about this last night when the temperature dropped to 12 degrees~ 'She forgot who she was"..

 

 

 

She walks the streets
no shoes adorn her feet
bare
bruised
rough, calloused

She finds solace in an
old suitcase
it holds all her belongings
she treasures them

A book of poetry
a purple silk scarf
a comb with most of it's teeth missing
like it forgot to visit the dentist
and
a picture
little girl
blonde
blue eyes with
a smile that lights the darkest rooms

She knows of dark rooms
she lives in darkness
she had a flat but her job
well, her job let her go
so the man said, "Get Out"
she tried to get another job
"we're not hiring", they always said

After a time , a long time
she forgot her name
now,
well, now
she roams the dirty boulevard
and wonders who she is
and how she got here
she wonders who the little girl is
who's smile lights the darkness in which she lives

People sneer at her
laugh, point , stare
a woman with faded blue eyes
dirty blond hair
in Salvation Army rags
they laugh
they make her feel
'uncomfortable'
they call her
the bag lady
among other names

Sometimes she cries
though she is used to it
her stomach gnaws with hunger pains
as she searches the trash and dumpsters
for a crumb
just a crumb
one crumb

The man at the bakery watches her
his heart is not hard
he calls her
she doesn't hear him
because
she doesn't want to

She knows what he wants
laughing
sneering
pointing
she walks past

Some nights she sees Angels
they call her name
"Jane"
"Jane"
"Hello Jane,
do you know
someday you will inherit
this Earth"?

Someday isn't soon enough for
sweet Jane
someday needs to be today

"Jane, don't cry",
they say
"someday"
"someday"
"someday"

"Please", she whispers
"help me find my way home"
"please", she cries
"let me be visible again"

She feels so alone
she is alone
but when she looks at the faded photograph
her heart feels lighter
the world
brighter

She coughs a lot
her house leaks
her nose runs
her stomach aches with hunger pangs

The Angels visit her every day now
"Jane, someday is now"
"Are you going to show me the way home"?

"Follow the light Jane"
She feels warm for the first time
in so long
the feeling is surreal
the light radiates throughout her
filling her,satiating the hunger
cold, loneliness

In the distance
beneath a tree of
fragrant blossoms
by a stream as clear as crystaline crystal
sets the little girl
"Mommy", she cries
"You finally came home"




 

Author's Note

I am glad I wrote this one on wordpad.. people need to be aware of this ... and not all homeless are drug addicts or alcoholics.. most are people like you and me .. it is said most Americans are one paycheck away from being homeless.. it could happen to any of us!

Reviews

[Lionel Braud]

this poem has a lot going, it is a narrative poem full of heeartache and hope, and has a harsh sense of realism, contemporary urban realism, lot of rhymes and off rhymes, slant rhymes, good use of dialogue, not many use dialogue, robert frost did, this incorporates lots of poetic styles.

[Zephyr]

wow. this really touched me.

on a personal note, i don't believe all homeless people are addicts or drunks. i tend to look at the more positive light in people. and those that do seem like addicts or alcoholics, then i think, Wow. How hard it must be to waste all your money on something that's ruining your life.
I love people. I really do. And it's problems like these- homelessness, war, famine -that make it hard to watch the news anymore.

thank you for writing this. i love it.

[Barry S. Maltese]

In a country where some of the wealthiest people reside, we have some of the most destitute. People lost and in need of help. Willing to be a part of a productive society if given a chance.
Your poem does a great job pointing out their plight. Nicely written

[Dead Angel]

oh my god this poem almost made me cry. but i can't because i'm in a public library and it would be a little embarassing, but if i were alone i would so cry my heart out. i feel the same way you do chloe, but the president we have now is so focused on helping other countries that he's forgetting about us. everyone should have a roof over their head, maybe our future president can help us in that area. this poem really made me see how bad our homeless problem is getting, the story line really touched my heart. great work!! i commend you on such a moving piece. :)

[Rain]

this wonderful poem is a journey of truth of sadness. i love the repetition and rhythm. good job tying up the last part with that statement.

There are just a few typos and only one part tripped me up for just a second:
she had a flat but her job
well, her job let her go

i think if you just throw in a comma after "job," it would help the transition to the next line.

beautifully crafted poem :)

[C. Marie Says, "do..]

wow, chloe, i really enjoyed your use of repetition here, as well as your imagery. VERY sad. very heart-felt. good work, darlin!

[TamiViolet i can't log..]

Chloe, this is really a heartfelt piece. All that could have been no longer is. There is no excuse for anyone to be homeless nor hungry.

but when she looks at that faded photograph
her heart feels lighter

She can only feel happiness for that fleeting moment when she remembers...

what might have been. Brilliant work! Love, Tamiviolet xxx

[Darryl Salach]

this is a great poem my friend...very touching!!

[Angie- Reading As Fast ..]

Oh, my God, Chloe... This is the most beautifully written, amazing sad story I have ever read. It is so full of emotion and truth. You did such a fantastic job conveying such a strong message. I applaud you. This is one of my favorites, by far. I just can't give you enough praise on such an intriguing and remarkable piece.

[Silvia - Scribo, Ergo S..]

Oh, Chloe ... how sad, how true, what an ever growing shame for our society! being able to spend gazillions on some wretched war in God-knows-where, but unable and unwilling to care for those freezing on your front steps ... chokingsly beautiful write, my dear! (everything else that�s wonderful about this poem has already been sad below .... as usual, I was too late! ...LOL) xxx

[Greg the Bard]

The story is getting worse with each day. Our people that say they care are tired. The Government has turned it back on them and we the people are hoping that we will not soon be in the same place. Your Poem falls on dead ears. But it must be said because without people like you there is not hope.