Glass sandwiches

Poem to be entered in the homeless contest. Since I happen to live in one of Europe's beercountries', beer is awfully cheap to come by and for some homeless it completely replaces... food! Hence the consequences for the character in my poem.

 

Glass sandwiches

 

Glass sandwiches for breakfast

Glass sandwiches for lunch

For dinner too …

 

Every morning at nine sharp

The supermarket door opening

Sounds like a harp

 

Music to your ears

A 24 – pack of half liter lagers

Takes away your fears

 

Getting back to your bench

Under the writer’s statue

For you have some reading to do

 

In yesterday’s paper

Now as a blanket disposed

You take the first can out of the packet

 

You do not want to make a racket

The beer will take away your pain

Though will not provide any gain

 

You go back to sleep

Even before noon

The opening of your eyes will not keep

 

At noon, by the pigeon’s

Sounds you wake

16 cans still to take

 

To get you through the day

To keep the pain away

After lunch, still 8 to go

 

Passers by come and go

Staring at the symbiosis between man and statue

Maybe the man is just asleep?

 

Oh, for he is there everyday

Of the week

He surely will keep

 

At dinner, when the rain

And upcoming pain

Still bring no gain

 

No more glass sandwiches today

Suddenly your body stops

As do the nearby clocks

 

Your time has come

To say goodbye to the statue

The bench, the pigeon, the rain

 

Glass sandwiches

Took away your pain

But brought no gain

 

The passers by of the next morning

Notice a familiar figure gone

With the wind

 

At your wake

No cake

No passers by

 

Only the priest

Understands the importance

Of the yeast

 

 

Author's Note

In my country pints of beer are often referred to as 'glass sandwiches'

Reviews

[Kimberly]

Wow, very good poem. Though I have to say, I interpret that last line differently than Tony, the featured review. I interpreted it to mean that the problem of the glass sandwiches that "Took away your pain/
But brought no gain" is not just a 'poor man's problem' but as spreading to affect even the clergy. The poem makes one wonder which came first in the main character's life, the cheap alcohol or the abject poverty?

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

A very well written poem, a very serious subject. Thank you for sharing. Debileah

[Deme]

Wow

[Bellarina]

Wow. I've never actually read a poem such as this one. It's amazing as to what alcohol can do to the human body. Exactly why it's better to stay at home and not get carried away with it. Great writing.

[shadadakiya]

wow that was a very great writethanks for shareing sista love ya

[Kees Kapteyn]

Ah yes- we call them liquid lunches lol- but sadly if this is the staple of your diet, it does tend to take over, as addictions are very insistent on doing.

[Writer CW Kirkland]

The title of this poem is appropriately named, and I like the story you told about the homeless man. You were able to evoke emotions in the readers with this piece, and your desciptions were very good. Thank you for sharing your writing on The Cafe. Best wishes.

[Jane Doe]

A wonderfully written piece. I also really liked the last line. I like the reference to the pints of beer as 'glass sandwiches.' That makes the poem very unique. It is a very emotional piece that I can relate to as a struggling addict. Great writing!

[Sparrow]

A terrible fate indeed. To only be remembered as that guy who we saw under the statue...to be walked by and people only hope you're sleeping, not bothering to check. To only have a priest at your funeral. Thanks for sharing this piece with all of us.