With winter snows comes Christmas,
Expectant children are filled with glee
With decorations, lights and presents
Joy filled faces for all to see.
But for some in this winter season
Holds no pleasure or such delight.
Spending their time in desolation,
Sleeping in cold doorways each night.
No pleasure for them is waiting
As the snows and frosts invade,
Their hungry bodies so barely covered
In the cardboard homes they have made.
Spare a thought as you eat Christmas dinner
For the starving and homeless on the street,
As they shiver, huddled in damp blankets,
While you doze in the comfort and heat.
Spare a thought for those so helpless,
Unable to have a home of their own,
Who live on the streets of our cities,
With no friends and always alone.
Spare a thought for the homeless this winter,
Could you give them a gift of a meal?
Could you open your door to the stranger?
Give them shelter and a bed, for real?
Spare a thought for them…..
Comments
1 - 36 of 36
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This is beautiful
So many people walk past the homeless without a second thought, reading this makes me feel guilty because I am one of them, next time I won't just walk past, I will try to help. -
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Beautiful Ann.
What an amazing yet sad write. It really does hit you as you read it.
Your kind words are an inspiration to all those people who do not help with the world.
I think you are amazing and your writes reflect what a beautiful person you are. Your soul shine through this piece.
Wonderful
Love Alex (your favourite person)
And your no.1 fan
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So sad it is to see those without during any time of the year but especially the holidays. It always tears through me and brings tears to my eye. Keep it forever flowing! Blessings Bel:f
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What I love about this piece is that it reminds us that we need to practice being human, bringing the humanity back to the world that we have corrupted. Awesome penning!
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A timely reminder of those words from the Gospels
"the poor will be with you always." [Mark 14:7]
We should strive to make this untrue.
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There you go Ann - writing from the heart. A timely reminder for this time of year when so many of us 'close ranks' and think only of people close to us.
Beautifully done
Von
Merry christmas to you Ann xx
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**brought a hobo a cup of tea the other day**
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Just. Plain. Wow.
I can honestly say this one caught my breath and took it away. this is so raw and powerful. You did outstanding, and I have no higher word in my vocabulary to say how awesome this is.
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So sad that people like this have to suffer your pictures really added to this peaace I believe if we can help in the littlest way we should definatlely help these unfortunate people! Instead of taking things ofr granted we should see what we have be more thankful and share a little more this coming year!
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Wow,,,,,,,,,,,
Very striking, and vivid.
The message is undeniable.
I love that you use the visual to
give voice to your words.
Good write. -
Aww! This is so touching, and I feel guilty now... =D Really though, very nice job here. My favorite stanza was the fourth (that was the one that made me feel the most guilty, lol) This poem reminds me of my sister because she gave brownies to a homeless person just the other day. Well done, so sincere.
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Unfortunately i couldnt open my home to a stranger... but spare a thought for this... some people may have a roof over their heads but no one to share xmas with. i thought this would be my first real yule but instead i ended up with 15 stitches in my mouth, a broken leg and sprained ankle... not to mention my new husband in jail. theres no visits in jail on xmas day so it will be bad for him too... least he gets three meals a day and a tv in his cell. put the real criminals on the streets and let ones like my husband come home to me. i begged the cops not to take him and the crimes were against me... how can i not have a say in that case? even my birthday was spent trying to get to jail to find out the bus driver just didnt turn up and it was a 40 min drive with gate lockdown within 5 mins. i stood at the top of a bridge that day and just wondered...
luckily my boyfriend took time off work and drove an hour to see me and i think thats the only thing that saved me. he also bought me a beautiful necklace.
the point being... the homeless arent the only ones that suffer at yule. a gorgeous thought still honey and your wording is always beautiful along with your heart,
i hope your birthday was a lot better, (even though we know ours is the same day now lol)
love you,
georgie,
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WOW!!! The pictures really brought out your message loud and clear. Great job! Thanks for posting and good luck at judging. Merry Christmas, Cathy
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wow! this is an amazing poem! it really brings over your point! ...almost makes one sick to the stomach, knowing here we eat and there they starve. i'm glad you didn't just say others were in trouble , but also said to help. "could you open your door to a stranger?" that's a great thing to encourage. some think it's just family so why should we? but you point it out so well!
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it" -Hebrews 3:2 -
SO TRUE
this poem was so true and meaningful. thnx for sharing. i promise to spare a thought for them!!!! -
This poem painted such good imagery, not just because of the pictures attached but because of the powerful words you used. I have been to inner-city Houston and worked under a bridge directly with the homeless and I also worked at a homeless shelter. People would be amazed what a difference you can make by just saying hello or knowing their name. Great job.
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Very emotional
Your writing was so emotional. True words and yet we live in a sad world where giving is not that easy for some of us and the ones that have the means to give continue to splurge on themselves and not help others who are in need.
I hope everyone can learn to give more than they have.
God will reward us all one day for the good we have done.
Blessings.
Jen-
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With the wealth the world has, there is not a single person that should be lacking in the very basics of life, and yet we see it everyday. There are 1.2 million nontaxable organizations in the US alone, so I don't believe it's that the money isn't given, but rather on how it's distributed that's a problem. Did you know that only 65% of every dollar actually needs to go to the "cause" by law, so if 100 million is given, 35 million can "vanish" without questions in the form of administrative costs and advertising. The world would do more good simply giving to his neighbors straight than running it through most organizations where only 65 percent reaches them in many instances. One can research this themselves and then give to the organizations who give the highest percent to the actual problem, up to 90 percent in some cases, this way more of their money is used as it should be. It also never hurts to give direct to the person, though better in food than cash as often it does go for drink or drugs. I usually ask why they need the money and if seem honest give it, come have even said it was to buy a couple beers and cigs and while it doesn't improve their situation, it perhaps will get them through this day where tomorrow doesn't seem quite as hopeless.
We all need a little help at times, whether in the form of money or just in the lifting up our spirits by someone who seems to care. Compassion is never a bad thing...
Happy Holidays to you and yours...
Hugs...Eddy
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Well done in subject and as a poem. Christmas is not a happy time for so many people. Those who feel so isolated from everyone, just watching others with plenty of everything when you are alone, homeless, hungry or sick or have lost a loved one and stricken with grief. Christmas highlights it all. But what is the use of only caring at Christmas? People need help all the year round and they open shelters in the UK in some towns but come January they close again. You can't have a job unless you have a proper home address and you can't afford a home unless you have a job. Just one more stupid rule in our system.
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thanks for sharing
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so sad
I like how you used pictures to put more emphasis on your words. It is truly sad that there are so many people without a home. A really good movie that I think you would appreciate is "Conversations with God." It is about the book written by Neale Donald Walsch. Check it out! And Merry Christmas! Enjoy the holidays! -
How very true
We have so twisted and missed the meaning of Christmas. I am so sure that God would not be happy that we celebrate the birth of his son by spending huge sums to money to give things to friends and family that are not needed or really appreciated while so many people out there are hungry or homeless. Some of the junk we buy goes in the floor or clsoet and is soon forgotten but could have fed or clothed a needy person. Great job Ann and God bless you, Mark
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Much appreciated
This is very meaningful! I like it alot... I think it's important for us to take time to give a little, because not many make the time. This is sad, but at the same time happy, there are many food drives every christmas, stocking stuffers for homeless kids, and people who go out and get paper ornaments that share what one might want. I love the format- ABAB that's one of my favorites, and the ryhme was forced as far as I could see (I think that's importante!) The pictures capture everything, this is the kind of thing worth having pictures for.
And I love the theme - Spare a thought for them... even if it's just a thought! I know this might sound corny but it really is going back to the whole 'it's not about the presents' it really is about the thought! that you thought of them, you thought to give them something, open your door to them, or just talk to them, or anything(even a poem!). I think it goes that way for everyone. We should be thankful for it all...
I appreciate this poem and your willingness and motivation to carry through with it, though alot of people think the homeless are fakes and what not... it's just nice to see there is someone else out there still caring.
Much appreciated for them---
~Madison~
PS: {on format}I also like how the first stanza explains happiness for all of us not homeless-- then the next 2 stanzas explain the helplessness and sadness of the homeless-- and then you lead for the last 3 lines as quesitons to your readers, "won't you spare a moment?"
Great write!
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Lovely.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holy Days people.
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Very Poignant
Very touching Ann and the photos that accompany it make it so more poignant. There is a church near us with a huge sheltered doorway where the local homeless had been gathering, naturally it affords shelter from the elements after they had been told to stay out of bus-stops or be arrested. Naturally they were turned away by the church as well, it is sickening, all these empty churches that could be put to good use, even more so at this time of the year. There but for the grace of God eh? Some grace!
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I went to Roubaix, in France last wednesday and we ate in a Quick restaurant (not sure you know but it's something like McDonald) and there was a man sitting there in the cold, begging for some money.
My friend and I bought him two burgers and some French fries... the look in his eyes said alot actually.
I like the message you're giving out here dear Ann - if only more of us would want to help them huh..
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well said my friend, it is easy to turn a blind eye to the problem, but at christmas we should all be ready to look it in the eye and give a little, bravo on this Ann...peace Terry
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Can recall an occasion or three when myself and whoever my companion at the moment was have bought dinner for someone off the street. We don't give them money, I suppose trust is an issue there, but we fill their bellies before going on our way.
I remember Bill in New Hampshire. I hope he made it to Florida before winter..
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This is so sad. It's alarming at how the rates of homeless have gone up over the past few years and how the goverment doesn't really help them much. Thank you for the gentle reminder to be generous.
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Great message here. This was such a sad poem, and it is such a sad topic which is unfortunately true.
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Living in London, I am constantly horrified that one of the richest countries in the world allows a minority of its citizens to live in squalor in public without apparent shame, whilst at the same time it not only allows but actually approves of £6m per year for some Italian to manage a football team in the pathetic hope of winning some useless cup.
. Rewarded 6
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very good, very thought provoking and very touching. Well done!
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Wow, certainly this is a "moving" piece of poetry. Tugs at my heartstrings very hard. I like the pictures inbetween the stanzas, it gives the poem more of a visual effect. Nice work here my Lady
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Bravo, this rhyme is impeccable and the message beautiful and sad for this time of year. So true. Hopefully all will find some way to enhance the life of another less fortunate. We are all so blessed in spite of material wealth, there is always room to help someone coming from our hearts. Touching.
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It is sad that there are so many far less fortunate than ourselves. We all need to show more compassion to them all regrdless of how they got there,the fact is they ARE there in hopeless situations.
Thankyou for reading and supporting the thoughts.
Ann
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