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Sunday, November 14

GOT TO PAY


You are not ill

But need to pay

That bloody bill

You got a fine

Taxes and toys

For your boys

Get up early tomorrow

Have to work

Great deal...

You pass him by

You feel sorry

(Just another one)

Not even look at him

But he’s got all the time in his life

To stare at you


Mum, why is he begging?

Why don’t you give him some of yours?

He’ll spend it on drugs

Maybe he’s hungry

Well, then he should go to work...


But she knows

Neither drugs nor work

Will do.

His misery, a mystery

Only he knows

But, somehow

She too.

___________________________________________One Shoot Sunday

23 comments:

Brian Miller said...

i have had those moments with my boys....i dont shy away b/c i have a big heart for the homeless...one different choice and it might be me, you know...

moondustwriter said...

Each case a heartbreak
there are those who are scammers but in this time decent hard working people are on the street

Beautifully done my friend

Hugs from the Moon

Hope said...

beautifully written!

thank you

kaykuala said...

It is great education for the young. We care for them but we can't. 'Why don't you give him some of yours?' is a powerful message that the young shouldn't get into the same rut. Brilliant!

Jerry said...

The children always que up the tough questions at any time any where. Nice.

S. Susan Deborah said...

How do we explain this to innocent and curious minds. Where do we get the answers. They have to find it out by themselves.

Time will come . . .

Joy and big hugs,
Susan

Carlo said...

True. True, what I read,

His misery, a mystery
Only he knows
But, somehow
She too.

Sees also the child that misery, mystery, but questioning is finished. Knowledge infusing. Silence ensuing.

Good words. Good writing.

Louise Gallagher said...

I once, as part of research I was doing for a play, stood out on the street dressed up as a prostitute.

It was not pleasant. Nor easy.

My then 12 year old daughter asked me, why do they do it mommy?

and all I could tell her was -- because like us, they too are looking for answers. They too are looking for love.

And she replied, I'm so glad I know you love me.

Your poem is really powerful -- thank you.

Claudia said...

their misery a mystery - so true dulce and so difficult to help them.

Chris G. said...

A striking work, with a certain sense of ambivalence to it--how hopeful, the mind of a child, and how harsh reality grinds at it with time. Pessimism breeds amongst the pain--and on we go, with our lives, content to leave them to theirs.

Love the ending, really captures it:
"His misery, a mystery
Only he knows
But, somehow
She too."

Helen said...

This is beautifully written ... in my town we have many homeless. We also have kitchens, shelters and support ~ but it's never really enough.

Adam Common, Poet said...

Great poem and actually on the topic. Love it.

libithina said...

Great take ~ how observant the innocent voices ~ difficult to explain ~ without even scaring ~
Loved it

June_Butterfly said...

One of the tragedies of modern times!So sad to see people living in the street.Some of them having this aura of having had tasted power and lose it.

Indeed...their misery is a mystery!!One I hope someone unravels ,soon.

Great write ,Dulce.I see them everyday.So this one's truly heartfelt.

Anthony Duce said...

Said so very well, as we circle around another obstacle we wish would go away.

Ileana said...

Beautifully expressed, Chica!

My kids are afraid of the homeless...but I try to explain that all of them were babies and children once, and they probably had families, and they all deserve love...every one of them.

Reflections said...

The mystery all of us could know... and how do we explain it to the world, much less the children.

wanderer said...

it narrates a grasping story--I could remember asking the same questions to my mother when I was younger and would pass by an old man, huddled up at the street corner...he died a few weeks ago...I did manage to buy him some food the day before he passed away..

Do visit my other blog and drop in your thought at the post destination unknown . It too speaks of a homeless person with a brighter mood.

wanderer said...

it narrates a grasping story--I could remember asking the same questions to my mother when I was younger and would pass by an old man, huddled up at the street corner...he died a few weeks ago...I did manage to buy him some food the day before he passed away..

Do visit my other blog and drop in your thought at the post destination unknown . It too speaks of a homeless person with a brighter mood.

RNSANE said...

We really never know the stories behind one's homelessness and, god forbid, that we are quick to judge. Since my job loss almost two years ago and, subsequent retirement, on only a half pension and Social Security, I am suffering as I never dreamed I would. It wouldn't be so far fetched to find me pushing him over for a place to sit.

RNSANE said...

Losing my job the way I did, with no advance notice, made me all to aware of the fact that, homelessness, such as this poor soul experiences, could so easily be my lot in life.

Kind Spirit said...

"His misery, a mystery Only he knowa But, shomehow She too" . Touching. Very well written.

JStar said...

I am with Brian...I have a soft spot for homeless esp since I was there not too long ago...I give what I can which is never much because I am still fighting to keep what I have...