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Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. Leonard Cohen

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Cityscape


Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Al Brady/ HAWKEYE


He stumbles
Along merciless sidewalks
Mumbling
Cursing
Mind assaulted by unseen demons
The damage tangible
Dignity and desire
Evaporate like sweat in the sweltering heat
It’s simply a question of survival

Passersby avert their eyes nervously
Flickers of humanity doused by fear
Could I fall this far?
Permitting the thought to drop
Down the street grate
With their secrets
And their cigarette butts.

submitted for Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, 'A' List Toads, in which Fireblossom challenges us to write a poem using some or all of the word lists on the post

11 comments:

Mary said...

A powerful poem here. Truly I did not notice the words at all..as the poem flowed so well. I think you have come upon one of the reasons people avert eyes... no one likes to really consider that another year it could be them. Excellent!

Brian Miller said...

really nice....i have a soft spot in my heart for homeless...spent a lot of time with them in each city that i have lived....they must be noticed more here of late because i keep seeing writes about them...

Helen said...

I have compassion for people who have no homes, no place to sleep, no food .. through no fault of their own. Your poem describes the emotional aspects of life for them - beautifully.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

He's carrying his whole existence in his backpack. Great write, and I love the look of your blog - such cute mice!

vivinfrance said...

A wow of a poem. Your use of the words subtle enough to disguise them completely.

Ella said...

Lolamouse you painted quite a view~
It is a haunting thought, so many broken souls~ Well Done...

hedgewitch said...

You pinpoint the problem we have with the homeless--the fear is not of them, but of the potential to become them. Well-written and very real, LM.

Kathe W. said...

and I always think as I see the walking wounded that once upon a time that was someones beloved baby.
and I wonder- what went wrong.

Margaret said...

snap! that ending is great!

Kerry O'Connor said...

There is such a story in that image and you have given it words.

Jinksy said...

A potent message from your rearrangement of chosen words - well done.