Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough .
Franklin D. Roosevelt - 32nd President of the United States **
Why
Fear
The
Tents? +
Separation
Of
Church
And
State
Charity
Work
The
Church
Does
Do
Yet
Cities
Persecute
The
Few
What
If
Politicians
Homeless
Were
What
Then
Would
They
Do?
Author notes
Written at the Hurricane Cafe 10/20/2008
Inspired by cover article: Real Change Newspaper
Vol. 15 #43 Oct 15 - 21, 2008
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw03122006/portraits.html
http://realchange.wikispaces.com/
For information about Homeless Families, just click on the following Google Link:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CHomeless+Families%3E
For more general information about homelessness, just click on the following Google Link:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CHomelessness%3E
http://www.local.com/results.aspx?keyword=Veterans+Organizations&location=Seattle+Wa
For information about Seattle's Hooverville, during the Great Depression, just click
on the following link:
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=741
For additional information, about the various Hooverville's, that existed in the USA during the Great Depression, just click on the following Google link:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CHooverville%3E
For more information about the Great Depression of the 1930's and 1940's, just click on the Wikipedia Link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression
** For more information about Franklin Delano Roosevelt, just click on the following Google Link:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CFranklin+Delano+Roosevelt+%3E
+ See also: "Tents", http://allpoetry.com/poem/3227360
In a list
- Society • next in list
- Homelessness • next in list
- Bare Bones Poetry *(one word/line) • next in list
- Architecture • next in list
A contest entry
- the list of evils by hks.
400 points, ended February 28, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Politicians are talking dummies of big multinational companies ...and have no hearts ...an excellent write dear poet ...tis a sad day when the true salt of the earth are forced into poverty by the rich mans er mistakes
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Aye, it would be most interesting if a hard hearted politician suddenly became homeless without access to any financial resources, 'cause that might make him/her rather scared as to their ability to survive. Thanks for your thoughtful comment; and applause for I do appreciate them.
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ya i wonder what they would do too
if they were homeless
good thought s and honest thoughts
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Thank you for your comment; compliments, and applause for I do appreciate them.
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reminds me of my awesome history class :]
but yeah.. its pretty harsh.
atleast now a days homeless people get fed by the government.
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Thank you for your comments, and applause for I do appreciate them. They may get fed, to some degree, but there is much they don't receive that you and I take for granted. I hope you had an opportunity to click on the links which I provided in the author's notes. Have you also read my poem called: "The Homeless"? If not you might like to read it. My father lived through the Great Depression, so I grew up hearing all sorts of horror storys about what it is like to be dirt poor with very little to subsist on.
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Very passionate. You have the ability to say it clearly. You don't get too wordy or lament. YOu tell it like it is . Truth is your weapon.
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Thank you for your most thoughtful comments; compliments, and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Sounds a tad like this was written by the great Jedi himself, Yoda! Sage and true words, indeed!!! bravo!!!
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Thanks for your gracious compliment; comment, and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Excellent
Well put.
I wish I hadn't stayed up all night.
Then I might
have written a more critical critique
But for now let it suffice,
that I say this is very nice.
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'tis a fine comment; compliment regardless, and I also appreciate the applause.
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good job
i like the format
the theme, the truthfulness of it all
i remember going to see a lawyer who worked for the homeless coalition
he kinda it was a job
and
the reason they screw the homeless
well, they don't vote
so unamerican
it's like mom, apple pie, etc
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Thanks for your thoughtful comments; compliments, and applause. I do appreciate them. By the way, in Seattle, before the last election there was an effort to register the homeless.
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This cafe seems to give you lots of insperation.I love that quote from Roosevelt. It is so so true. This write was especially poingnant and i wish that the polly's could experience the other side then they wouldn't be so damned puffed! Excellent piece to ponder. Thanks for sharing with us.
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Thanks for your most thoughtful comments; compliments and applause. I do appreciate them.
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I have been homeless before and it was devestatin.If I were to revise this I would elaborate on how hard it really is,the cold,rain,hunger tiredness you feel because you have no where to lie down all of it and put in there just what you would do if you were a politition and how you would try to help.Any way this is really done well.I am glad that you chose to write about it.Thank you.
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Thank you for your most thoughtful comments; compliments, and applause. I do appreciate them. This poem is written in what I call a bare bones style; if it were a piece of art one would call it a minimilist style, I do believe. Thanks again, for your comments.
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Excellent Write
Good Morning, You always say so much in a few words. A very powerful write. The politicians take a blind eye to so many things in this country today. I am afraid most of the citizens do too. We have become a me me me society and forgotten that but there for the grace of God go I. I hate to see winter coming. My mind always drifts to the homeless on those bitter cold nights. A wonderful poem. Thank you for all the links in your author's notes. Take care.
Sandy
.
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Thank you for your most thoughtful comments; compliments and applause. I do appreciate them. I shall; and you also.
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Hello Clovis.
A strong write, which asks a valid question. But although it is valid, I am of the inclination that those politicians are no different from the majority they represent at a superficial level, so in my view, that question should be asked not just of politicians but of all. That isn't of course taking into account how detached politicians are from reality, nor who they really represent. But your poem is one to make people think, and it has achieved that.
My regards.
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Aye, you have a very valid point. Thanks for your thoughtful comments; compliments and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Outstanding
A thoughtful poem. I loved the Roosevelt quote. It is very sad to think that people have been so wrongly treated and I agree if politicians could actually experience the hardship people suffer they might start doing more to help. Unfortunately politicians are hungry for power not for helping people that is why they get into politics in the first place! A great write that highlights human suffering.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comments; complimens and applause. I do appreciate them.
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Politicians are driven by greed
If those in power lived a simple life for one week, one wonders if thinks would change. Most likely not as forgetfulness is a condition one cannot escape, your write for such a short poem, drives the message home loud and clear. Homeless people one can argue have only themselves to blame, but if the world leaders treated everybody equal, perhaps there would be less of that. Well done with this write.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments; compliments and applause. I do appreciate them. Although not all homeless individuals or families are to blame for being homeless. After all, mortgage crises caused by inept bankers; rising property taxes, unexpected huge medical bills, or being laid off from work due to a company downsizing, can all contribute towards someone becoming homeless. In todays fragile economy, almost anyone might become homeless, through no fault of their own.
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A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
Wow, incredible for something so short. And I love that beginning quote/reference. There's a lot of singular people who also don't see that. I think the one word per line form really worked for this as well. Well done. : ) Thanks for sharing. -
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Thank you for your comment; compliments . I do appreciate them. -
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You owe no thanks here. Just giving credit
where credit is due.
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Okies!
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Short and powerful.
Thanks for sharing it.
Interesting style, too.
Politicians being homeless?
Now there's a thought...
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Thank you for your comments; compliments and applause. I do appreciate them.
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