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?

[Tony]

I really like the final line in this great poem. I regularly thank whatever God is listening for my ability to enjoy the drugs and alcohol without becoming some kind of complete loser.
It is of utmost importance for us writers to maintain some sense of direction, many of us through part time sobriety.
This poem is easy too read, follow and understand. Just what a good poem should be.
In my opinion.

[R J Askew]

I was going to bed and was not going to read anything, but when I saw your title in my read requests I was captivated.

I think you have done a great job taking an everyday term which has a grim humour and truth about it and turning it into a fresh piece of writing about a commonplace problem. I especially like the way the guy's day progresses and the way you weave the statue into the mini drama. 24 is a LOT of beer. I imagined some kind of play between the statue and the drunk...with the pigeon negotiating somehow. Sad end though. I think it is the observation and gentle sensitivity that I like. We get the message from your observations rather than a lecture on the problem. Very well done.

Poem also reminds me of a visit to Brussels -- Le Mort Subit, Le Corbeau and other bars -- and a very heavy hangover on a train to Ypres followe by a weary slog on foot up to the battlefield. A kitten appeared from a farm and followe my friend and I as we went from burial ground to burial ground, meowing like it was trying to tell us something. More beer when we got back to Brussels. Groan.

[maiarusm]

I find it always painful to read about stuff like this. Unfortunately, it is often true and not pure fiction as I would have liked. Sometimes I wonder if the world would change, even just a bit... for the better, if strangers knew to care for people like these? A very good poem, tragic in it's reality and beautiful in it's tragedy. Thanks for sharing.

[Fran Marie]

A great piece here and very interesting to read i might add~ WEll DonE!!
THanks for sharing~Fran Marie

[The Archangel Gabriel]

Very nicely said. I have often said that a Guiness is worth about a half a loaf of bread While beer might be a great substitute for food during college, we really do need to try to do something about the homeless people around the globe.

-Gabe

[Rockebah]

Now that i know what glass sandwiches are im not confused anymore.
This poem was an absolute delight to read. I must say i love your writing strategy.

Beer has initially been invented by monks (as I was told) because they also had to fast, and can only take liquids. The ingredients of beer are practically the same ingredients in making bread as well.

The smell of beer being brewed smells like a bakery. It surprised me for the first time.

But to only live on beer because of no other choice, is another story.

Very good form, good choice of words, well painted imagery (especially the end), well imparted message.

It emphasizes on the hopelessness of the homeless and what they end up succumbing to.

A very good piece.

[Artur]

are you a Czech?

[Angel Bird]

A fabulous write. One forgets way too often how much they have to endure, and how fast one can land up oneself sleeping on the latest newspaper on the bench in the parc. One never knows what path fate chooses for us to go.

Very eye opening, touching, and excellent piece. Kudos!

[Legion]

What a sad life and one that pretty much went unnoticed except the occasional awkward glance. How many live like this? None. They merely exist (not live) from one "sandwich" to the next. What a despairing waste. Damn good write though. Top notch or top shelf whichever you prefer. Kudos to you.