Homeless Shelter

Broken lives lined up like match sticks.

God's angels,  incognito.

Bodies snaking along the sidewalk.

Second-hand smoking; no need to light up your own.

Passers-by staring with morbid curiosity.

Futile to resist.

Now inside.

No hello or welcome home.

It's, "what's your number?"

No one cares; feigned concern.

No fancy luggage; trash bags suffice.

Tempers flaring.

Faces void of dignity.

Happiness evaporated.

The smell of despair wafting through the air.

Laughter temporarily masks the pain inside.

Time for dinner; meal has no taste.

Time for sleep; no rest for the weary.

No slumber; just forced recess.

Temporary reprieve while bed bugs reign.

Lights click on.

Roused to awaken.

Welcome a new day?

I think not; go away.

Breakfast harkens.

Future darkens.

Kill the day; one hour is like a millennium.

Nowhere to go; try to blend in.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions and there are many on-ramps and people willing to stop and give you a ride.

Go back to beginning and repeat (do over) ...

Reviews

[D]

The shelter? heh.. many ask why won't the homeless go to the shelter instead of the streets. Obviously they're unaware what it's like... Not many did I tell.. Yes. There were times when I ran away from "home" Reasons can stay private. It was nothing illegal except for the running away. Literally running away.

What's in there? Bored, cold faces throwing you a piece of bread and some....whatever you could call it. The nights...Shut your eyes, but tomorrow you'll wake up to continue living your nightmare. Nobody knows your name, no one gives a s**t . Dignity? Lol. You'll do whatever to survive.

The shelter? Like a prison camp. Maybe worse, because you could escape from a camp, but you can't escape the fact that you got nowhere to go... Streets? Faceless faces walk passing you by. They won't see you, even tho they're looking at you. You become a "problem" that everyone knows about, but no one really cares... Some say it was probably your own mistake... Some think you're looking for pity.
Why? Because they weren't there, never saw any of it.

Anyway, I liked it. . because it's relatable and we'll written

[Pete]

A painful reality that many don't comprehend unless you've lived it. You are so honest & real but most importantly you "get it". Thanks for the read.

“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.” ― Henry David Thoreau

[D]

Yes, I agree with the quote. Gotta admit I'm going to read from Thoreau. You're welcome

[Coyote Poetry]

The homeless shelters are full in Michigan. A hard world. Will it get better with new leaders?
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions and there are many on-ramps and many people willing to stop and give you a ride.
Go back to beginning and repeat (do over) ..."
The above lines were solid and true. USA had fell backward. Can we go forward? Thank you Pete for sharing the powerful words and thoughts.
Coyote

[Pete]

At a certain point we must go forward or it's over. The human spirit can show amazing resiliency when backed into a corner. Let us stay ever hopeful. Thank you Coyote for thoughtful review.

[Coyote Poetry]

I hope for good change. Time for USA to fix their problems. We can't save the world and you are welcome. The world must save themselves.

[alanwgraham]

I think you have caught the helplessness of homelessness very well. Every day the same and the depersonalisation of the individual.
Well done.
Alan

[Pete]

Thank you Alan. Best regards.

[Willard Wells]

Very well done. Poverty and homelessness are becoming a bigger issue for our country. You have done an excellent job of showing the repeated daily life of many.

[Pete]

Thank you kindly, Willard.

[kyam]

So real and intense. You feel like you're at the shelter. You feel the disdain, indecency, degradation. Beautifully described.....Kyam

[Pete]

Wrote it while I've been living there.

[kyam]

No wonder the feeling is so real....another step in life's rainbow. We never know what is next, I'm sorry that you have experienced pain, my friend.....Kyam

[Pete]

It's o.k. I've learned a lot & grown from it. You are a living miracle. Thanks.

[kyam]

Honey you know that life has so many twists and turns and there are no promises. So we must learn from our life lessons, Sugar, hopefully to make us wiser, God is good...........Blessings, Kyam

[Pete]

That means a lot coming from you. God bless you, my friend.

[Im His Daughter]

There will surely be a future hope for you & you will not be cut off. Paraphrased.. Jeremiah 29:11 I was homeless too in 2011 for 6 months but still had somewhere to sleep other than a shelter. I was close to it. All resolved now, but not forgotten. May God give you the riches of yours & his desires! I will pray for you!

[Pete]

Thanks. I need it. I have been struggling greatly with my faith, trying to make some sense of what has happened in my life. God is the only thing that gets me through.

[...]

So, Pete...you write this with a distinct flare of knowing. I know, because I have been there, on both sides of it. It seems only yesterday, really, although it was many years ago for me. I felt each and every word of this reality, and hope that it is also just a memory for you now. Seems odd to say beautifully written considering the topic, but your skill at reaching inside your reader is...beautiful

[Pete]

I'm sorry you had to go through it. Unfortunately, it is a reality for me, not just a memory. Thank you for taking the time to read it. I appreciate the feedback. God bless.

[M. L. F.]

This poem.... breaks my heart. It literally breaks it. Beautiful.... I really loved these stanzas:

Breakfast harkens.
Future darkens.
Kill the day - one hour is like a millennium.
Nowhere to go - try to blend in.

[Pete]

Thank you for taking the time to read it. I'm at least glad that I could convey some of what it's like. Unfortunately, I wrote this from a first hand account. This is currently my life.

[M. L. F.]

Oh my... I understand. Much respect for you.. This issue is near to my heart. Amazing that in america there can be "working poor"... The idea infuriates me to be honest. No one who works should ever be poor. It is not like that here in Holland. I will never go back to the states for these very reasons.. I hope things get better for you soon... My heart literally goes out to you..
.. Misty