Clive didn’t see himself hard done by
he had more than most
his feet were warm and dry
and he had
depending on generous passers-by
one square meal a day
he was once in their shoes
scoffing at derelict souls
until the economic downturn found himself
pressed to the sides of a cardboard box
without the luxury of choice
Clive knew the risks of flying high
spending his money leering at the unobtainable
with legs up to their ears
of waiting for the incessant ding
of thieving poker machines
but Clive is ever the optimist
he make a dollar here and there
doing on jobs around ‘his’ street
sewing each note into the lining
of his weather beaten coat
believing that one day
he will be flying high again
Clive died yesterday
in the chill of a Manhattan backstreet
under the cardboard roof of home
the police finding him frozen to hope
they donated his coat to those not unlike himself
the cold and the homeless
with ten thousand dollar noted dreams sewn within
ten thousand unfulfilled dreams
of a less than fortunate man
Author notes
Prompt: Option A found at photobucket
A contest entry
- ...And You Can Tell Everybody... by Desire.
1221 points, ended February 12, 8 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - A character Indeed by Emmyb.
760 points, ended March 16, 28 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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this is beautiful. sad. i felt really unhappy when reading that he had died as I had expected a happy ending. this is a horribly amazing piece - i hope you know what i mean by that. well done. really well done. Emmy
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Thank You!!
Thank You for Your entry: Clive ~ an unfortunate life
This piece tugged hard at Spirit and after reading several times~ I am Honored also Humbled You took the time to pen for my contest You took the prompt and ran with it~ Bravo!!
When I digest words written, images come through that grab hard~ I have to say- when I read Your words~
I imagined many Clives out there- who onced had then had it taken away- when You mentioned the dollar here and there but also the thieving poker machines- brought realization of a family who the bread winner- was not winning- he spent the mortgage money- wife did NOT know- and when they were evicted- she was in shock- as men came in and threw their things onto the street before the neighbors and husband who neglected to tell her- it was his fault
This swelled the eyes but also brought Inspiration where Clive was holding onto Hope- even when he died....
~ Love the direction You took this prompt Hopefully my words make some sense Powerful verse and message You have brought forth
These words grabbed and pulled-
he was once in their shoes
scoffing at derelict souls
until the economic downturn found himself
pressed to the sides of a cardboard box
Emotional Voice spoken~
Thank You for sharing Your Heart also Spirit
also best wishes to You in the contest Sweet Soul
**Judging will be done shortly...
Many blessings too
with much love and light~ Desire~*~
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Wow!! I got chills reading this!! You know how to pen such strong societal writes that really capture the emotion of the situaation. Amazing!!
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aw wow a wonderful tkae on the image promt so deep and
your imagery and emotions are wonderful as always good luck in the contestmaralisa
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Excellent
Oh this is so sad but so true for many people. We get so busy in life we forget about those whom are suffering even though it's by lessons unlearned. Broke my heart he died in that cardboard box. I'm helping a homeless man lately myself in the hopes he will make it through. He just has a little ways to go and I pray he makes it. I can't save him though and that I have to remind myself of.
As for the poem the imagery was great and it was an excellent poem. It flowed nicely and is a wonderful story as well. Brought lots of emotions out in me as well. Best wishes in the contest.
Many Blessings,
Much Love,
Kelle Marie
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Wow! This is just another amazing write from you. Such a vivid tale about society today, we can never be sure of anything anymore.
But your ending
Excellent indeed.
Best wishes with this.
Gaylene
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Holy heck ~
I absolutely love that ending! He had the chance to move up in the world and he didn't - he stayed where he was ... Wow. WOW!
Best of Luck hun!
♥
Stay safe
Love to You
~Manda
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I love this! Very thought provoking write! Best in the contest!
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