To the Boy on the Street

He's just a person who finds happiness in nothing but hope

and escapes the clutches of poverty with nightly dreams.

 

He's just a fighter who is content to wait at the intersection

for a spare bit of change that he knows will never come.

 

He's just a child, stubby fingers caked in grime

brushing the heels of fat, well-fed figures passing on the street.

 

He's just a boy who's fallen through the cracks

beaten flat by the stampeding feet of oblivious cows.

 

He's practically a baby with no roof over his head

and no nightlight except for the city neons.

 

He is innocence, helpless and in desperate need

of a miracle or perhaps even an explanation.

 

He is exhausted; his tiny shoulders crumple beneath the world's weight

and he closes his eyes forever, hoping for better luck in Heaven.

Author's Note

I don't know. Leave thoughts, please.

Reviews

[Soma-ko]

I personally enjoy reading poems/pieces that attempt to capture the essence of futility, the feeling of hopelessness, because I want to see how others put their thoughts of helplessness into words. Your piece definitely has a sense of sympathy and pain, but even so, you add a twinge of hope. 'Hoping for better luck in heaven'. I was going to add the word 'loss' to the description of your poem, but there is no sense of loss. The boy has already loss everything. There is only to gain for him, which makes this poem deviously, a poem of gain; not loss. Enjoyed the poem, and the imagery. Good job.

[Luna Evangeline]

Thank you for the kind thoughts Soma. I couldn't bring myself to write about this child's loss, but only his hope.

[Soma-ko]

It's useless to focus on the negatives, stay the way you are, and focus on the brighter spots of life. (Still should keep a clear view of the darkness, but don't obsess over it).

[TL Boehm]

so sad. and real. I have struggled with "how we treat the homeless" there are times when I see someone on the street and I look away. usually because I have nothing in my pocket and guilt in my heart. yet I know others who will greet a person with a smile, look that person in the eye and shake that person's hand. Especially kids. Its wrenching to think of a child without a safe place to sleep and enough food to eat. A great thought provoking write

[Luna Evangeline]

Thanks T.

[kublakhan27]

Wow, this piece knocked me out with its power and poignancy...great piece, well done.

[Luna Evangeline]

Thanks.

[redflutterby]

Wow!! You capture the lives of far too many among us. In our hurried day to day activities we forget those invisible people of society. In particular the children who drift with no real home and live to anchor them in a safe harbor. This is straight to the heart reminder of that!! And it is worthy of a 100 rating. ;-)

[Luna Evangeline]

Thank you very much.

[Trigorin]

Reminds me somewhat of that one Elvis song on the same topic. I think you've done well on this piece - there's an element of hopelessness which is offset somewhat by your gritty descriptive lines, and the ending is just the right mixture of sadness and hope, which is difficult to pull off. Overall, good work.

[Luna Evangeline]

Thank you, Trigorin. Also nice to meet you.