The Pull of the Streets

Here is a link to my you tube channel where I read my poetry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZptFkj_ezoo

It's hard to understand, unless
you've been there.
There is a pull to the streets.
I can't count how many dead
end jobs I've held�"how many roach
infested rooms I've
crashed in.
The inevitable day comes when
I tell the boss, 'F**k You, I don't need this s**t! '
I walk out into the misty
afternoon�"I look left, then right.
I drowned out thoughts of the future with
a cheap pint of vodka.

I see one eye George on my travails,
he's half-lit living in the woods.
'Don't let the b******s get you down.' He says, as he
stumbles by bent, and taking a standing eight count.
Mickey the midget stops me a
block from my flophouse.
'Tommy boy, I'm sick…gotta a couple of bucks so
an old drunk can get well. '
I slip him a five.
He says with a tear in his eye,
'God bless you Tommy�"you know I
had it all, I'm afraid the
streets own me now.'
'Keep your chin up' I say as
I plummet down the
street, pretending
tomorrow is a decade away.

I climb the three flights of
stairs to my room,
slip the key in the lock,
turn the knob�"it opens.
'I love these little miracles' I say under
my breadth.
My three-legged cat Walter saunters up to
me�"he's white with marmalade splotches.
He does his best to rub up against
my leg�"I pet his matted fur.

I passed out in an alley one
night, and woke up to Walter lying next to me.
I think something crawled into
my ear and made a home,
it's been there ever since.

I crash down on my chair,
and watch Walter scratch at
the door with his one front leg.
He hasn't been neutered�"he gets the
pull of the streets.
I let him out and take a long swig of
the vodka�"the potion does its magic.
Life doesn't look so bad,
there will be other jobs, and I still have
two weeks left in this
dump of a room.
A writer needs four walls�"yet there is
always
the pull of the streets.

Author's Note

My book Seedy Town Blues Collected Poems is available on Amazon.com

Reviews

[Michael Sun Bear]

I love the poem, I love the cat. While I know him more by reputation than having read much of his work, I half expected to pass Charles Bukowski in your hallway. In all seriousness, I am an addict and it is only through the grace of God that I am not currently living the life you have described.

[Thomas W Case]

I have 2 years sober now. God's Grace. Thank you.

[K. Louis]

I love the interactions you have with the regulars on the street.The imagery throughout was great. Nice poem.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[keith]

ya nailed this one pal. most have no idea how it is out there on the streets.
they have no idea the comfort the streets bring to the soul that has nothing else but the street
it is a puzzle unfinished and always missing one piece

your writes come from experience. few can capture the realities of having nothing.

[Thomas W Case]

You are right. Thank you, my friend. Appreciate you.

[emmajoygreen]

Thomas, sir, your words are the proof that behind and within so many human beings, there's a long and.. tragic story hidden by an 'almost smile'. Yours is such a finely written post and - even more, courageous.

[Thomas W Case]

Than yo so much. I appreciate it.

[Poetic Beauty]

This is raw and real. There are many struggle with addictions and alcoholism. Some wind up on the streets because of them and some wind up that way from living on the streets. Bouncing from job to job and room to room or even street to street.

This feels like an honest and real piece of writing from someone who knows exactly what it’s like to live that way. I love the fact that you added in Walter the three legged cat. Pets don’t judge and love us unconditionally

[Thomas W Case]

That is so very true. Thankfully I have 2 years sober now and my past is fodder for writing.

[Poetic Beauty]

Writing is a get way to tell your story and to get out those thoughts and emotions in a positive way the isn’t detrimental to the mind and soul.

Congratulations on the two years of sobriety. It is no easy feat to accomplish