The Guy Pushing Big Issue

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Sat, 26 Dec 2015
  • 2501 reads
8 comments
 
He’s got the gift of the gab...that look in his eyes...
 
a touch of pathos for the ladies,
with a soupçon of Prince Charming 
in disguise...
 
a glass slipper, maybe
at the very bottom of his rucksack
 
for the gents...a certain hint
of a Man of the World, seeking,
as we all do, that special oyster
contains a pearl.
 
He’s got his spiel off-pat,
knows when to hold out his hand,
when to back off, 
 
to smile at a baby in a pram, a toddler,
hand in hand with a grandmamma, pat a dog, 
run his fingers through his hair...
 
when to up sticks...pack up his pitch
move on...be lost in the crowd – 
could be anyone...
 
someone’s dad, someone’s uncle,
someone’s son, and like us all
 
he’s got the cool night air, the stars, and a rising moon, 
shining overhead...
 
everything he needs,
bar a roof
 
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Philosophy

Comments

Submitted by VeraClark on

This is lovely. Seemingly light, an expert of his trade and yet the vulnerability rarely seen. Homelessness is the main political issue that I get on my soapbox about and have to be carried off still yelling about it. Social attitudes in the UK to homelessness stink - worked with older homeless males for years in 'wet' centres. I've a bullet for every pig that says 'It's awful but they don't help themselves.'

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Amen to that, Vera.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

nicely written, how little we can know of one another, but it helps to be friendly. Some must feel they'd like the freedom of just being under the stars, but that roof is sure needed even in a mild December. It's usually ladies I'm more familiar with selling 'The Big Issue'. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hello there, Rhiannon, and many thanks for sharing your thoughts.  As for the 'Big Issue' sellers around here...at Waitrose it is normally a lovely young lady, and outside Tesco - her husband.  Nothing like 'keeping it in the family'.  They are lovely people with a very recent addition to their family, bless them.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Nicely developed, Tina. So often people have an us and them attitude, but it's just us without a roof - for such a multitude of reasons. For me you showed this so well in your poem.   

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Bee, and you are so right, unfortunately.  There, but for the grace of god, go each and everyone of us.

Tina

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

Hello Tina. This is great. A touch of magic and enchantment against reality. It made me think how in luckier circumstances, he could be one of those entrepreneurs we see on TV, like a TV chef, being in the right place at the right time. There's a lot of lovely Big Issue sellers in Bristol, as everywhere. And all these empty buildings.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Catherine - your words ring true...and as for  'all these empty buildings'...never more so.

Thank you.

Tina