All the vacant homes on our street
Show how bankers called last year
Evicted owners had no choice
And they now have mortgage fear.
Vandals came and broke all glass
Stole the fittings from inside,
And now among the heaps of junk
Rats, mice and vermin hide
Next the wreckers came along
And smashed the houses down,
They left cleared and sterile land
Once a nice part of our town.
The Wilson's house was last to go
Perhaps it was the final straw
To see a stairway going nowhere
From a stained glass entrance door.
My heart is crying for reprieve
From the greedy dollar god
My tears flow freely from my eyes
On the soil where neighbors trod.
Whose kids will call me Grandad now?
Who will hear my fairy tales?
And who will make me feel safe
When the howling west wind wails.
The streets are all but empty now
The buses come no more
And I must walk a long long way
For food from the nearest store.
Author notes
The financial crash may be blamed for many things, but the loss of homes is utterly devastating for not only the family concerned, but the community of which they were a part is torn apart too.
A contest entry
- Stories Within - Rhyme only by passim.
1800 points, ended July 14, 18 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
comments ?
Comments
1 - 27 of 27
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Very poignantly stated. I often wonder just how successful capitalism really is. It has always benefited the rich. In the UK when big businesses or banks go bust they seem to get bought out by the government. Then, when they start making a profit again they are sold off. Irony is not a strong enough word...
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Thank you kind sir for your visit and comments. Capitalism is only successful for the big end of town. Those with money who can use it to make more money. For most of the worlds people it means it costs them more of their meagre income to stay alive. Govts are free with bail outs for banks etc because the money they use is not their own, it belongs to the people collectively. Services provided by Govts must suffer when the cash supply is diverted to prop up inefficient banks and businesses.
We are damned , whether we do or don't. -
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Oh...we're damned alright!
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SAD
Oh golly this is just so sad. a once vibrant street now dead, that's not good. I loved this. very well done
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It is very sad indeed. I went back to a town where I used to live to find most of the suburb cleared. Nothing but nice roads going nowhere. I was totally dismayed. Thank you for dropping in and leaving a comment. Much appreciated.
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Truely devastating, as you have portayed so well in your poem.
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Thank you. It does not happen in our village but the cities and big towns have spaces where people once lived.
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too true mate... but seems we as humans have lost the true meaning to life and we place all our priorities in the wrong areas... really got me thinking this write...
cheers
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Yes Rob, we humans have got our priorities all wrong. People first and money later.
Thanks for dropping in my friend.
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This is a wonderful write, Bob. I never imagined out where you were that society could actually have any impact on your quiet easy way of life. Never imagined that vandals would actually exist out there, but i must be wrong. Guess these vandals will go anywhere. Very sad this is. So many people have lost so much due to this crash. Makes one wonder if those in authority and those that destroy lives can actuakly live with themselves. You told a very dismal story which i am sure has been repeated in many many places throughout the world. Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece. I wish you the very best in the contest.
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Thank you for dropping in Lee. No, it does not happen out here where I am now, but I went to a town where I used to live to find my old suburb about half now cleared land. Nice tar roads leading to more nice tar roads, but the houses - gone. So sad.
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Unfortunately so very true. Having been in that sort of similar situation of losing my home so I know the heartache and towns die street by street. Such a compassionate and understanding piece and very well done.
Sheila
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Thanks again Sheila. Where i am this situation does not exist. But in the big towns I visit it is sadly visible to those who look. I saw vacant land in a big town where there was once a thriving vibrant community. So heartbreaking for those involved.
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Another super write, telling a tale of greed, and what it can do. It seems so often in life that the innocents suffer. That fifth stanza was a 'stopper!'
Regards.
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I thank you for stopping by and leaving your comment. It may seem strange that I am personally unaffected by all this but it is happening and the money men don't care at all. They may even be pleased if they wanted the land for a supermarket or something.
A community needs people and financial institutions chucking people out of their homes does not help at all.
Cheers
Bob
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So sad and heartbreaking...Mary
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Hi Mary, many thanks for your visit and comments. I live in a remote country area where this does not happen, but I feel for those who are affected and for the communities which also suffer.
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Bob
Shades of the 30s maybe? And the beat goes on. Our world of brotherly politicians talk it up, pick our pockets and live in mansions. Yet we still dare believe. I wonder why? Hang tough my friend.
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Bob my friend. It ain't happening out here in the boondocks. There are so few people out here anyway. No, it's the cities and big towns where this happens. The pollies are still grabbing their bit, but the big money men are the worst. They started all the financial rot and I'll lay two to one they have still got their mansions with hot and cold running maids, cleaners, and cooks. Thanks for visiting and commenting my friend, and yes we still dare believe. Weird creatures, aren't we?
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Hi Bob, sadly this is happening all over the world my friend, your town my town, nowhere is exempt from the harsh reality around us. Your 4th stanza hits home hard and lets the true sadness through...mal...
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Hi Mal, many thanks my friend. Sadly it is world wide. No where is exempt. What hits home to me is that none of it had to happen. It could have been avoided. So much sadness and heartbreak.
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Great work Bob! And sadly very true.
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Thanks John. You know I saw it happening a few years back in a suburb of Dubbo but didn't cotton on until I went back there a few years later to find everything gone. Shock to the system.
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Chilling! Sould be shouted from the rooftops!
And it is happening where we live in Lincoln NE. We are usually isolated from the goings on of the world. My wife and I volunteer in the local food kitchen and at the food bank. The tragidy of these homeless families is hearbreaking. Bob though you are a carpenter you have much wisdom in other areas. Let's see, wasn't there another carpenter who had a lot to say about social injustice
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Bob, it is happening all to frequently, in too many places. My suburb in a town where I used to live has been stripped bare since I left there. Just open land again, with roads and footpaths still there, going nowhere. Thanks for your comment, my friend, I wish I could find something positive about such goings on.
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wow this is pure sadness, well written too!
blessings
Rend
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Thank you Rend. I went back to a town where I used to live to find my old suburb almost completely bare. Houses, families, local hall, everything gone. Heartbreaking.
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