Hear the jingle bells,
the tinkle of change
dropped in buckets,
but nothing ever changes
for those huddled in obeisance
to the Barrel.
Has the Burning Barrel ever spoken
to any of its worshipers?
Lives tucked into shopping carts;
elaborate junk castles
covered with trash bags.
Behold the child of the night,
she carries her life
on her back
so her hands are free
to slap away grubby advances.
There is no need
for a teen girl to be homeless
in this great nation.
So many Samaritans offer
a hot meal, a hot shower,
and their warm beds.
Instead, she holds her fingers
over the Barrel,
next to a toothless sister,
baptized in her own urine.
She hunches her back
against the cold that has worked
down to her bones.
The numbness isn’t so bad,
really.
Better than being
pressed to a mattress
beneath a sweaty, fat man.
Author notes
The Burning Barrel is an allusion to the Biblical story of the Burning Bush that God used to speak to Moses.
The "sister" in this poem, is not a real sister, but another homeless person. It is an allusion to how people from the same chuch often call themselves brother and sister.
A contest entry
- ANTI XMAS CONTEST By Ravenblood&ITNC by Girl With Guitar.
700 points, ended January 7, 9 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - A Not So Holly Jolly Christmas by Carpe Noctem.
850 points, ended January 7, 16 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Wow. This was a powerful punch. So much raw truth; I think one of the things that caught my attention most were the lines,
"Instead, she holds her fingers
over the Barrel,
next to a toothless sister,
baptized in her own urine. "
So many people don't want to see the ugly side of society, even if it means losing one more "fellow" American. And just as in your AN, people that go to the same churches often HATE each other because it is more a competition than true worship. Great job! Thanks for entering, and best of luck.
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Thank you, and yes, you are so right. People are often trying to be holier than their "brothers and sisters." Instead of worrying about their own immortal soul, they are condemning others.
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O Lord save us--a fat man, and sweaty too. How gross!
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Superb...
I feel almost shy to comment here. Your ability to construct a piece that both criticizes our conditions (with poetic tact) and powerfully point out details leaves me in awe. This is even better than I imagined your work would be. I saw so much; feel more than cyberspace is supposed to pass on...so - the incredible skill that you have, leaped over 'normal' cyberspace in a single stanza:
"She hunches her back
against the cold that has worked
down to her bones.
The numbness isn’t so bad,
really.
Better than being
pressed to a mattress
beneath a sweaty, fat man."
Yes, you got me with this one. I can't wait to read more. Thank you (you won't need luck to win this contest).
AsIThink...
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Taking a stab in the dark and guessing you're english.
Maybe a fan of Sophie Andrews, too.
I think the vocabulary is great, and it's not what I was expecting in this contest. Thought, humor over stark reality. Alas, I do enjoy this, as ghastly as it is.
Thank you for the entry and best of luck. -
Ohhh. I loved this a lot!!! How joyous and helpful everyone pretends to be and yet there is still so much suffering and pain going on in the world. I don't know completely if thats what you're going after in the poem since I don't follow the bible. This the Burning Bush story rings no bells for me.
But awesome poem, thank you for entering.
Raven -
Powerful poem, filled with details which make it authentic, make it stab at the heart.
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