I don't often try my hand at poetry. I worked on this as part of a mission's group at a church a few years back. Our goal was to teach compassion for those not blessed with the comforts we enjoyed. The question was raised, "How can we help these people if they constantly show us such obvious disdain?" My answer seemed simple to me, but apparently not so simple to others. "We need to look at life through their eyes." I hope I've done that with this poem. At this time of year when so many of us have so much to sustain us, perhaps we can find a little something extra to share with those in need.
Knee-deep in empties
Crouched in a hallway,
Hearing the sounds
From behind a closed door.
Dragging on snuffed butts,
Desperate for anything.
Tasting the scraps
From the trash on the floor.
Hide out and hang out
And whisper to shelter
The sound of existance
From thrashing their ears.
Murmuring beggars,
Grateful for garbage,
Hard to the world
For ignoring their tears.
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Comments: 13
Sad people have to live like this. When I was in college, I learned some people actually choose this lifestyle. they shun what society has to offer. There are different types and classes of people in the world, and this is just one of them. I feel bad for them, but they could change their situations (in some cases) with some effort.
If only everyone in the world could do this 24/7 what a compassionate world we would live in.
Kim, this poem is wonderful. May I suggest you repost this article on Thanksgiving Day - or before if you are going out of town. It's something we all need to be reminded of--twice in one month is not once too many!
Bon
of this nation. So easy to ignore when we bustle along eyes forward. They are invisible as they sit ,huddled in doorways or alleys by dumpsters.
Once they had dignity. Their situation easily atainable for any one of us . The goal to be living on the streets requires no study or aspirations. Just the alignment of a string of unfortunate circumstance, some brought about by those individuals,some from this society. Many veterans live on our streets. Take a drive in any big city and pay close attention to the activity under bridge overpasses, or parks with shelters.
Thank you ,Kim. Charity begins at home,so "they" say...
sheila h., Nov
these poor souls... God bless you...