Flop House

Smashed dreams neatly arranged on grungy shelves.

Cantankerous curtains of outdated newspaper and old box tape.

Callous cots of bronchial bedbugs.

Cuniculture of dust bunnies.

Gangrenous graffiti scrawled on wailing walls of woe.

Abandoned, abject, abhorrent abode.

Devoid of hope and happiness.

The sound of screams and doors slamming off in the distance.

Mufflerless cars passing by spewing carcinogenic fumes.

The scent of cigarette smoke, body odor and urine permeating the air like pathogenic perfume.

Pill containers lined up like medicinal monuments.

Empty booze bottles clanking as they roll around worn floors.

Faineant, faded, fatigued flagons of firewater.

Beer cans cracking like crusty castanets.

Peeling paint lacking pigment.

Slivered wood shavings hanging from dejected door jambs.

Nails protruding like knives to the heart.

Greasy, fried chicken fingerprints on fortresses of fornication.

Spent condoms and syringes strewn about the hallways and stairs.

Blank, confused faces.

Decaying life.

Belligerent  belching.

Lost souls walking the halls searching for explanations.

Vampish vomitorium.

Nausea to the North.

Spitting to the South.

Ebullition to the East.

Wretching to the West.

Palpitant pergatory.

End of the line.

If you play your callous cards right,

you could end up in ...

the flop house ...

Reviews

[Hebe]

Just an incredible visual ride.... I pass by the homeless people in NYC with their beds made of cardboard and their plastic bags and filthy clothes. Your words just reminded me of these poor souls!
Just an extraordinary real description..I'm lost for words!

[Pete]

thanks Hebe. appreciate your time. incredible what is around us if we just open our eyes and take the time to see ...

[MsJewel]

Your words are raw and real and so very powerful. Fantastic writing Pete. Julie

[Pete]

thank you so much Julie for your thoughtful, kind comments. always appreciated, especially coming from the Queen of Romance writes!

[TerryDarcy-Ryan akaSh..]

Wow! Pete this is so surreal. I am moved by the depravity. I have tried to write about this very subject and could not achieve what you have so skillfully done here. Very impressed. You Rock!! God Bless

Sheer Terror

[Pete]

thanks Sheer. life isn't all sunshine & rainbows so i sometimes mix dark writes to keep it real. reminder that some have no voices ...

[emmajoy]

The content of your poem is more than raw, more than true, more than anyone should endure.. but do. It's not a case of passing by places and wondering, it's a matter of walking through a front door, helping at a soup kitchen, stopping to somehow exchange a few words is what matters.

Too many people walk by on the other side, some out of fear of being hurt, others because they're made to feel guilty, but oh so many because they don't care a tinker's cuss. If only people looked with eyes wide open.

Unsure about the repeated use of certain letters. Is almost too clever (and it is) but not in such an emotional piece of writing.

[Pete]

such a thorough, thoughtful review. you have such a finely tuned detailed eye for writing and reading. appreciate your feedback. thanks emmajoy!

[Layla]

A very heart-ripping poem.
Such vivid imagery and such poignant lines.
An emotional write .... I enjoyed this a lot.

[Pete]

thank you Layla. not a happy write. appreciate your time & comments!

[Tony Jordan]

I was fortunate enough to work for a year voluntary work, decorating the homes of those less well off (drunks and hoarders and mentally unstable). It was an eye opener - none of them - as bad as they were - lived in as bad conditions as this picture though so relatviely speaking they were lucky - damn ! I never ever thought I'd say that.

Your writing has such pathos. Terrible that it needs to be penned Pete. Makes one count their blessings very carefully.

[Pete]

indeed Tony. indeed ...