Where The Streets Have No Blame

Cherry

By marandina

Tue, 06 Jul 2021
  • 1995 reads
13 comments
 

I pass you on the desolate streets,

huddled under weather-worn blankets,

in dimly lit, dank shop doorways,

the smell of wandering urine is acidic,

forlorn expressions etched on forgotten faces.

 

I hear you, see you, shouting at midday,

lurid catcalls of misunderstood intimidation,

human traffic bustles and flows around

ripped and shunned obstacles, inconvenient detours.

Street people stagger and stare.

 

This is a post-modern, humanist world

of intuition and towering achievements,

advanced machine algorithms of wealth,

shimmering hope invoked by a Golden Age,

metaphorical castles, lines of suburban sanctuary.

 

Young runaways escape broken adolescence,

addicts drawn by the lure of perpetual absenteeism,

a social conscience punctured and torn,

lost souls selling a short-lived notion

of a life of freedom without the need to care.

 

Build them the safety of houses, bring them in

from the bitter winds of undecided fate.

These meandering wanderers are a reflection

of who we all are in another time and place.

Help at hand, if we want and wish hard enough.

 

https://www.timeout.com/london/news/pod-homes-with-5-a-week-running-costs-are-being-built-for-londons-homeless-063021?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&cid=~london~natsoc~twitter~echobox#Echobox=1625485886-1

 

Image free to use at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Image1-65_Allan_Warren.JPG

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Opinion

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

There are so many reasons and complexities of life and situation behind each living without fixed home. So many ways to try to help practically or in friendship.

But I was struck by your phrase 'a life of freedom without the need to care' and was reminded to look up and re-read something I wrote a number of years ago about longing for independence, but … https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/no-ties-ip

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Rhiannon, and the link to your wonderful poem from 2014. Agreed the reasons for homelessness are complicated. I guess the message I want to get across is that the resources can be made available so that folks can be kept off the streets overnight. The link to the article shows what can be done for reasonable cost and using imagination. Really and truly, we should be able to collectively fix homelessness in the 21st century.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul,

your poem describes a life that's both scary and vulnerable. How easy it is to be drawn onto the streets when life treats you either bad through no fault of your own,  or you loose your way in life and cannot cope with the realities.

A poignant read that hits home.

I really hope these pod homes take off, they sound like a great idea.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

I read that homeless people tend to not want to use shelters as they suffer abuse there. The new, innovative accommodation looks like a good idea as long as they are secure. It must be a step forward from how things are now you would hope. Thanks for reading, Jenny. Paul

 

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

Very good. And the article was interesting. I saw a similar project. Shipping containers I think. Turned into homes. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Cheers Drew. Good to see issue being addressed practically at long last. Much to do but it's a start.

 

Submitted by celticman on

build more houses you rich cunts. (sorry that's a rant). I follow the housing issue closely from my tent, with my faithful dog. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, CM. Yes..that about covers it

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I heard about the pods on the radio, I hope they take dogs, that is a reason people give for not going in shelters because they don't let in animals. As well as that you catch stuff, and also there are scary people staying there too. They sound more scary than the street.

Lots of great lines as always in your poems :0) "I pass you on desolate streets" "social conscience punctured and torn," "inconvenient detours"

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah cheers Di. I wasn't aware of the dog issue. You would have thought innovative accommodation wouldn't be so prescriptive as to ban pets. I hope not. Paul

 

Submitted by Hades502 on

Some good writing, as usual. I really liked the feel of this one, could almost picture it all quite vividly. Congratulations on the cherries.

GGHades502

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, Hades. Paul

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for the cherries, ABC Eds. Much appreciated. Paul