" Not only our future economic soundness but the very soundness of our democratic institutions depends on the determination of our government to give employment to idle men .**"
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States
Why do they fear me?
Is it the way I look?
Old clothes and baseball cap
Brim pulled low
Sauntering down the street I go
Strange are the looks
'til eyes flick away
Ignoring me doesn't make
Poverty disappear
A pay check or two away
You may be
Greeting me on
The street some day
Author notes
Written in Waterfall Park - Seattle - 7/07/2006
See also: http://allpoetry.com/poem/3859025
** http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/franklin_d_roosevelt.html
* http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/depwwii/depress/depress.html
For more information on 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=%3Chomeless+veterans%3E
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=1757
http://www.local.com/results.aspx?keyword=Veterans+Organizations&location=Seattle+Wa
http://www.lyricsbay.com/tenting_tonight_on_the_old_campground_lyrics-unknown.html
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=%3Chomelessness%3E
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 - 18 of 18
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Terrific thoughts friend. Certainly an appropriate point to make in today's society. Well written and well argued.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment; compliments, and applause, for I do appreciate them.
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Bad decisions, bad timing or just all over bad luck -- there are so many people living so close to the door that it doesn't take much to land them on the curb. The economy of recent years hasn't been dealing any breaks, either. It's true that a lot of homeless people are mentally ill in some way, but I empathize with them all the more because of that. The sheer amount of isolation and prejudice they experience is heartbreaking, and hell, I know how hard it is trying to pull yourself together when the whole world and its dog is betting against you.
To be honest, I used to get a little righteous when I'd watch the "hungry" guy beeline for the liquor store. Now, I can't say I care anymore. Sometimes you just don't have it in you to do it all yourself, and them's the people that need more help than I'm able (or indeed, willing) to give. I'll be the first to admit that I'm two tons of selflessness shy of a saint. I just don't have the energy, motivation or resolve to be the person who tough-love-shelter-food-and-interventions them back on their feet, and it might not be my place to anyway. The best I can do is hand out some cash and not judge the comfort it might scrounge.
Thanks for your lovely poem, and all the thinkin' it's brought!
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Thanks for your very thoughtful reply. I hope you had an opportunity to click on and read the footnotes which I provided. They are valid URL's, and you may find some useful information.
I also appreciate your compliments, and applause.
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Now... I have to say... Some homeless people, I offer to help. But those that do not have even an inkling (sp?) to help themselves, are the ones that truly sadden me. Say for instance... You give a homeless man a few dollars, for what he says is for food....then you watch as he walks into the liquor store to buy a bottle. Saddening.. Some of them need extreme help, but we're afraid to fully engulf that.
Enjoyed reading this one... It brings to life the homeless...and the need there is to help them. Most of them are people that have been there, they've held a job, they've had a family, a home, but life got the best of them. I think that if I owned my own business, those are a few that I would hire.. just to help them in that little way.
Powerful write, and thank you for all the links! -
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Thank you for your most thoughtful comments; and compliments. I do appreciate them. You are quite welcome.
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Poignant and relevant! Awesome work!
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Thank you for your comment; compliment and applause. I do appreciate them.
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I will help anyone one who needs it to the best of my ability. I think the reason some people fear the homeless is because they read tales of people being accosted, molested, or killed by vagrants. Although the actual incidence of this occuring is rare one bad story about a crime, big or small, by a homeless person who is mentally ill colors the view of hundreds of people toward their plight.
Great job.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Unfortunately, you are sadly correct with your observation that is indeed the "Stereotype", the media, inadvertly, has created in the minds of millions of Americans. Yet, in today's economy, who knows, tomorrow those who criticize the transients of today may yet themselves become homeless. One never knows!
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How true!
I can attest to that! Great societal poem on today's transients.With the economy the way it is anybody could be the person in your poem. (I have been in the past).
Thanks for sharing,
Jennifer -
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Thank you for your compliment and comment. I do appreciate both. Sorry for the delayed reply.
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How true!
I can attest to that! Great societal poem on today's transients.With the economy the way it is anybody could be the person in your poem. (I have been in the past).
Thanks for sharing,
Jennifer
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Thank you for your personal witness/comment and your compliment and applause. I do appreciate them. You are quite welcome.
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To be ignorant is to be fearful and yet do we want to learn.For many it is easier to cross over to the other side if only they would realise that it could just as easily br them, Ros
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Thank you for your comment and compliment. I do appreciate both.
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HA! It seems we have more in common than I originally thought. I had spent 5 years being "homeless" or being a "transient" or "vagrant" and I cannot help but associate with the words you put down here. Funny enough, the ones who gave me the odd looks in the past still give me odd looks because of my new chosen appearance. I've come to the conclusion that it is best to dress out of the norm, that way you can weed out the ones you would be better off not knowing anyway by their disgusted looks.
And all I wear is leather, spikes/studs/patches with my long hair and gotee. It is intimidating though I muyst admit. But screw'm all. I've lost patience for most people these days.
Oh.. nice poem lol.
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Ah, glad you are no longer homeless. I agree, I dress down all the time, and occasionally get funny looks, and, behind my back referred to as a 'bum', and I don't care. I have had friends in past years that dress as you now do, and no it didn't bother me. A person's character is best judged on their actions and not something as totally superficial as one's appearance. Unfortunately, we live in a society that seems to stereotype individuals by their appearance; which I find to be a wee bit ridiculous. You might like my poem "In the Box"; and one other one called: 'Stereotypes.
. 1) http://allpoetry.com/poem/2200075
2) http://allpoetry.com/poem/2140139
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