" But while they prate of economic laws, men and women are starving. We must lay hold of the fact that economic laws are not made by nature. They are made by human beings .***"
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States
Long are the days
The homeless roam
Why do we turn our
Noses up
As we pass them by?
"There but for the grace
Of God, go (you and) I"**
Are our finances so secure, that
We'll not be turned out the door?
If we lived upon the streets
Would respect be the
Reaction we would recieve?
Homelessness a crime?
Not on my dime!
Compassion our society seems to lack
When we turn our backs
Multi-millon dollar
Stadiums; high rises
And condos we do build
Yet low income housing,
We can't seem to afford?
Political will we don't seem to have
When will this problem be solved?
I'll not bet, at least not yet!
Author notes
*Title inspired by this play: Eugene O'Neills, "Long Days Journey into Night".
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Day's_Journey_Into_Night
*** http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/franklin_d_roosevelt.html
Link for the quote:
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bradford
See also: http://allpoetry.com/poem/3434828
http://www.local.com/results.aspx?keyword=Veterans+Organizations&location=Seattle+Wa
http://www.contemplator.com/america/tenting.html
For more information about the Homeless just click on these Google Links:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CHomelessness%3E
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CHomeless+youth%3E
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CHomeless+Veterans%3E
http://www.lyricsbay.com/tenting_tonight_on_the_old_campground_lyrics-unknown.html
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=1757
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=Homeless+Families
In a list
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 17 of 17
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like it
this was a very interestin piece. i personally like lamb verse to freeform but you wrote with emotion and i could see it. good luck and continue.
Raven Evangelline Nevermore -
There are many different things American's can do to help out this situation. Most of it starts with our local and state governments. And where in the world did our sense of compassion go? We seem only interested in ourselves. I applaude the efforts of our government to feed and shelter people all over the world but let's start at home!
Great write! I will step off the soapbox now.
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I quite agree. However, sometimes our heartless politicians engage in draconian budget cuts for needed social service programs, with absolutely no regard for the human consequences of their ruthless actions.
Thanks your your thoughtful comments; compliments, and applause for I do appreciate them.
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again you do outstanding research with your poetry, which just further pushes it over the edge and makes it great. amazing job like always!
i would've thought that after the great depression america would have had the foresight to ensure that homelessness wouldn't be a problem; but i guess i give people too much credit.
I have two words: Golf Courses. There are hundreds of these large areas across the country which could be used for low-cost housing. The people who primarily play on these insanely large areas? Rich white men. That's my personal opinion of how homelessness can be solved; use the land of golf courses and build low cost housing.
great poem, keep up the amazing work!
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments; compliments, applause and a marvelous suggestion. Of course former (abanded) military bases close to major cities could also be used for tent cities, and low cost housing. Unfortunately politicians lack the compassion to resolve this problem in a positive manner.
Thanks again.
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You have asked some important questions in this well-penned poem. I read Christopher Jencks survey of the homeless situation in America and found it very informative. Thank you for writing about the homeless.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments; and you are welcome. I appreciate the comments.
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Sad but true
I'm from a small country and It's like that here some places also.
We tend to turn away and pretend evrything Is ok as long as It doesnt affect ourselves
A wonderful write and wonderful insight
WELL DONE
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Aye, 'tis sad but true, indeed. Thank you for your most thoughtful comments; compliments, and applause. I do appreciate them.
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sad but true. and beautifully penned.
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Thank you for your comment and compliment; I do appreciate both.
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*****
Your poem is great. It hits the issues with good detail for situation in Vancouver, B.C. Where Olympic venues are being built but not low income housing. May I read this at a coffee house night focused on poverty and homelessness -
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment and compliment. I do appreciate both. Yes, you may certainly read it there. I'm sure you'll acknowledge me as the poet who wrote it, as I would do for you if the situation was reversed. Thank you for making the request.
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So very true.. .Loved the phrases "Turn our noses up"; "If we lived upon the streets Would respect be the reaction we would receive"
I liked your style a lot ... nice work.. in choosing ur subject, u have gone beyond obvious expressions or impressions... and yet in a simple way, depicted the state of our society...
really nice.. -
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Thank you for your most gracious comment and compliment. I do appreciate both.
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OMG! so dang true. Homeless are people to and deserve some respect as well as the rich and famous.To many times you hear of a homeless person being robbed or beaten. I mean come on they have very little if not nothing and people steal from them give me a break i think the government is afraid to touch this problem. They treat it like a disease that there is no cure. Very good write here. I liked it.. every single word.
Keep it up.
Poeticanjil -
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Poeticanjil
Thank you for your comments and compliment; I do appreciate both.
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