Ode to the Homeless

Got a big ole plastic cross hangin'  round my neck
got a little brown  bag with all my stuff ,
 ain't much it's just what's left of
my life
walkin' these streets so long I'm feelin' like a bum
life can sometimes be rough
the streets well,
they sure can be unkind

Paper sayin' there's  a war , wonder where
man , I can't remember the last time I combed my hair
when was the last time I changed this dress
I sure must look a mess
walkin' these streets
so  long  my brain is kinda numb

I see people lookin' and starin '
they should think twice for they could be me
they think I am worthless they think I am scum
they don't know  all the damage that's been done

Livin' here ain't easy sometimes life gets hard
concrete for a pillow
  most times I don't sleep  so good
I dream about a place
this place had a bed
there were some people who loved me
someone callin' my name
one day I heard voices screamin' inside  my brain
all I could do was jump off the train

Now I'm walkin' these street's so long feelin' so insane
hopin' it don't rain 'cause see-
sometimes my  roof it does leak
asked a lady for the time - looked at me and sneered
asked a man for a dime - looked at me
laughed- called me old filthy tramp

I'm walkin' these streets alone 
me  my little brown  bag a' stuff 
I see people's faces in these pictures
I wonder who they are
they look sorta' familiar
if they know me,
I know them- why ain't they here

Walkin' these street's so long hopin' for a break
while my hand's are idle, they always shake
I dimly remember a time when my hands
had a grace
I had a place

Walkin' these street's so long I don't even know my name
these streets can be unkind
these streets are so unkind
wanderin'
wonderin'
what happened to mankind

Author's Note

old poem of for people i feel for .. homeless.. not so good ..
in this one i had in mind a lady who became mentally ill
ended up on the streets
one too many unkinds, suggestion?

Reviews

[ice]

I agree with ladysue, this poem is lyrical, good words for a song..

"pity this busy monster, manunkind,

not. Progress is a comfortable disease:
your victim (death and life safely beyond"

ee knew what he was talking about..I hate that busy monster, that turns its back on people like the one you so clearly described in this poem..
Shame on that comfortable disease, but kudos to your poem.

नमस्ते,

[John Jackson (El Juero)]

This is perfect. The streets are unkind. Homeless families are one of America's dirty little secrets. i'm glad you wrote this, so more folks are made aware...what happened to mankind.
Painful truth is, I'm a couple bad decisions away from this life. Excellent write.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

This was so masterfully written! You touch a very sad matter that happens all over the world! The imagery was excellent!

[Rossen]

not enough,almost hit the streets, scared the s**t out of me.
sorry I rarely cuss

[Gone]

This subject is something which toches my heart too. I can't read this without my emotions ovewhelming me. May it ever be so! I hope I never get callous to toward the homeless. I once fell into the trap of no home and no work. Can't get work without a permanent address can't get a room without a deposit and employment! I was lucky. after a couple of months living in a tent, I had a chance meeting with an old friend who vouched for me with another friend of his. It broke the cycle and I was allowed to escape. How many are out there, trapped and alone and abandoned by their former friends? How this tears me up! good write Chloe

[Robin]

sad poetry of one who has slipped through cracks of society , what makes it more sad is knowing that society really doesnt care ...

[Angie Diane♥&hea..]

This was a good poem...people do give up and just don't know what to do with life....and they just start to lose themselves more and more...I know the streets is a hard place to live...and its terrible as well..this was a great write...it was pretty power to me. Good job. :)
Thanks for sharing. :)

[Ladysue]

This read like a song...you piece is sad..homeless is something no one should have to be...you penned this well...

[OT]

you **write sad truths very well!! a theme in a few of your poems, something so many overlook, yet you lay it out for us all in an unmissable way!! brilliantly written! great poem!

[cfix]

Touching but sad write.
It's a sad bitter world we live in nowdays.
This is a truthful write.