The Modern Plague

Attitudes towards the homeless.

Across the concrete canyons

A bitter wind blows

Through the souls

Whose lives are scattered

Among its various arteries

Like a colony of ants.

Scurrying around

For the latest deal

To pad their wallets

And corporate rep.

Having little

Or no time

To see

The other people

Around them.

A look of blankness

Crosses their faces

As they walk by.

Ignoring those

With their hand out

Asking for a spare loonie

Or two.

Else

To complain

At the local shelter

About people gathering

In front of.

Like they're

Lowering the resale value

Of the condos built

Nearby.

Long after

The homeless shelter

Was opened.

Never mind

The real estate market

Is constantly rising

For their units.

As if

The homeless are

The new lepers

Of the modern society.

Threatening to spread

Their disease

Of misfortune

To the wider city.

Who are tolerated

At a distance.

Even then

Just barely.

Author's Note

Had my eyes opened, when I was forced to spend time, in a homeless shelter, in 2007.

Reviews

[MomzillaNC]

This is one of the tragedies of modern society. Do folks in your area work the shelters and adopt-a-family programs at the holidays? For example, my church (which supports the local food pantry year round) receives several times more donations in the holiday season. And, my son's school is collecting necessaries, food, and toys/gifts for four different families in their adopt-a-family program. These programs are little enough for those poverty stricken folk, but still very welcome. Our food pantry acquires about half of their non-perishables and cash donations for the year during this season.

NOTES: [Whose] lives are scattered

[therisa]

Every second year, a church does a Christmas hamper, for the women, who live below the poverty line, in my apartment building. One year, I got a beautiful light scarf, in the hamper. As for the shelters, I don't know, as I was there, for a month, and worked my butt, to get out of there, asap. It was too stressful for me.

I know, various local charities do provide Christmas hampers, for low income people, like the Salvation Army, and the Scott's Mission, to name two. I got an email, from a private charity asking me, what I need, in a way of Christmas hamper. The local CBC Radio One (like you NPR station) has their annual charity drive, next Friday, which they accept food and cash donations, for local charities and food banks.

And thanks, for the corrections. I wouldn't caught it, myself.

[MomzillaNC]

All our local stations do something similar. All the churches choose adopt-a-families. Our local emergency services collect toys and gifts for folk. Shelters and GCF collect coats, blankets, warm clothes, and shoes. And many organizations provide meals for the Holidays. But, the main thrust around here is the adopt-a-family programs which focus on year round needs. HFH usually build or repair a few houses for those in need too.

[therisa]

Sadly, the poor are remembered, only during the holidays, when its glaring oblivious for their need of food and clothing. Never mind, proper housing.

[MomzillaNC]

That's true for most people, I guess. As I said above, our church supports the local food pantry year round. Every third Sunday is donation day. And, every other month, we have clothing and necessaries to donate (everyone's kids outgrow stuff all the time).

[therisa]

As a kid, got a lot of hand-me-downs, from my older cousins, which they outgrew.