I live on the margins,
in those empty spaces in between,
sight unseen,
but no one ever looks in the shadows anyway.
I don't know what day it is.
it's May isn't it? Or June?
The nights will be much warmer soon.
My newsprint blanket will soon be unneeded,
just as I am.
At night I wander lonely alleyways,
avoiding the unfriendly gaze
of all those I know do not approve
of me.
I've got a bottle of grape Thunderbird
in a brown paper bag
in the pocket of a coat I stole
from an old man dying in the cold
last winter.
The hangovers on which I thrive
remind me that I'm still alive
and breathing.
I've got a girl in a red house
over on the other side of town.
Like her house she's beaten and run down,
but I sometimes think I love her.
I only see her once or twice a week.
When I do we hardly ever speak.
We just sit and get drunk
together.
She hates to go outside
except on Sundays when she swallows pride
and faces the derision of her neighbors
as she makes her way to a little church
to pray and say,
"Thank you Jesus for the life I have."
I always wait for her afterwards,
sitting on her front porch,
smoking hand rolled cigarettes,
watching the crackheads and hookers
as they emerge to face the light of day
like predators in search of prey.
I welcome her home with my gap toothed smile.
She says, "Boy, I really like your style.
Won't you come on in and stay a while?"
We listen to the radio
and she cooks for me.
For just a while we pretend
we have a normal life and then
I go back out on the street again.
A contest entry
- EMOTIONAL!!!!! Looking for the best. by Condemd RyeZing.
650 points, ended June 2, 2008, 38 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Anything and everything by Fitz1901.
750 points, ended July 22, 2008, 59 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Largest Contest On AP!!!! by xxRainbowDawnxx.
3000 points, ended August 26, 2008, 1668 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - complications of being by yael.
450 points, ended October 6, 2008, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Anything! by XxLoverOfDarknessxX.
900 points, ended August 6, 87 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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WOW! this was amazing! I loved this piece!
Very creative and original. 
such intense emotions in this piece. I loved it! WOW! this took my breath away and left me speechless, two things which are hard to do. WOW! keep up the good work! thanks for entering and good luck in my contest!
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WOW! this was amazing! I loved this piece! Very creative and original. such intense emotions in this piece. I loved it! WOW! this took my breath away and left me speechless, two things which are hard to do. WOW! keep up the good work! thanks for entering and good luck in my contest!
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This has to be one of my favorites so far. What an extraordinary poem, it moves so well, its creative, tells a heck of a story, is emotional, deep. Just an awesome read thanks for entering.
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Wow.
I really liked this one. Great write. Nice way to end it. -
Thunderbird
I have to say I haven't heard that word in a long time.. We used to say ,when younger and broke, ' Theunderbird is the word ' But this fine write held me and boy was it ever accurate about the life of a wino. Well done
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you not only tell a powerful story, but you do so with an incredible amount of depth. Details are woven into the fabric of this piece that make it so impacting. This is one of the finest pieces of writing I have stumbled upon in some time. I love it. The subtle rhyming adds additional flavor to a piece that already makes a fine meal. Very well done.
Rory
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coming from a storyteller as accomplished as you are I consider this to be high praise indeed. Thanks for the kind words.
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i read this poem and see my future i am half way there already i think. drunken days and roll ups, that is my life now, i am just not living on the street as yet. but for years i have thought i probably will. though i have spent time drunken in the street. a good piece showing the crazy sad way of life for some.
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The interaction here between the wino and his nearest supposed closest personage is incredible and how life is imagined even if just for the moment before all fades back to today makes this write work. This is a story which works the best in poetry that I personally enjoy. Even though I often write introspection, I adore the 'story', the 'characters' created and the fate or outcome that follows or is left hanging. I'm glad I stopped by and next time I come I'll expect a drink even if out of a bottle in brown paper bag. I'm not too good for that. RC
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WOW!
I really like this...it reminded me of an old movie called ...Iron Weed...Jack Nicholson and Tom Waits.
I could feel the cold winds blowin down this guys neck.
I do not say lightly that this is some of the best work I have read here. Immense description....I started to feel like the character in the poem. Truly a great write.
Knowing your talent, your comments are much valued.
I for once..at at a loss for words.....I love this poem.
MANY BLESSINGS BROTHER,
LOWELL POE
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Strong tale of some peoples lives, and they grow day by day for society disregards the ever growing poverty..soon they will outnumber the average joe blow...the economy is fast seeing to that. Love, C
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What a sad tale to tell. If only for a little while we pretend to have what is normal. Thank you for sharing this poem. ~Sie
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This is such a sad tale... left me with a melancholy feel of how some lives merely exist in moments such as these...
An amazing write.. played out in my head brilliantly
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