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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Man On The Street


Man on the Street

They looked away
He wasn't like they were,
They walked straight, were clear of skin
and neat,

They turned and whispered
Shook their heads,
He shouldn't be out among us
He should be off the street,

He shuffled along bent and twisted
With blotchy skin and tattered clothes,

He thought to himself
I shouldn't be out on the street,
The way I am;
But no one knows,

There was a time I stood straight as an oak,
Shaved smooth and clean,
The finest clothes and shoes I'd wear,
Before the times were lean,

Then all my treasures turned to dust,
My loved ones walked away,
Success and reputation gone
Hard times and illness filled my days,

I was like them who shun me,
Offended by the sight
What I've become,
A victim of my plight,

If only I could warn them,
If they'd listen to what I say,
But I know better
They'll have to find out their own way

Nancy Ellen Crossland

14 comments:

  1. S0 sad, and so many nowadays, a person wishes they could help each and every one of them.

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  2. Yes, it is very sad. We can each do what we can! Thanks Yo! :)

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  3. a very sad state of affairs. very well penned and perfect image to go with it.

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  4. A great but sad poem with a perfectly stark picture to reflect a stark reality. Excellent work!

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  5. Very sad, and we have no good big answers, just each doing what he can.

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  6. So true, Montucky! Thank you! :)

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  7. I can only agree wholeheartedly to all that has been said here. Thanks (((Barbara))) our world needs more compassion, methinks.

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  8. Yes, Jonie, it does! Thank you! :)

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  9. Nice image and pungent poem. I can't help but to think of Ted Williams, the street person with a gift of voice~ a Youtube video that went viral this last week.

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  10. You're right, Preston, this does remind me of him. I hope things are looking up for him now. Thank you! :)

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  11. Oh my... sad and evocative.... picture and poem. I agree with Preston.

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