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Down and Out

I flitched a buck from a half-drunk bum
rolled a spliff twix finger and thumb.
Took a swig from my bottle of meths
Met under the arch with the other guests.

There was Smokey Joe just out the can
got a job as a night-watchman.
Matchbox Harry would never miss
born an inveterate arsonist.

I took my place with this motley crowd,
elbowed in for crying out loud
kept well away from lousy Lou
did not want the things he grew.

Chewed the cud and passed some grass
Lousy  Lou still scratched his arse.
The Sally Ann gives tea at ten
swigs of meths might last till then,

Drop outs with no need to work
beg and steal and always shirk.
Sleep on cardboard on the floor
piled up in some likely door.



Author notes

Option 4 King of Rock Bottom. Sally Ann otherwise known as The Salvation Army charity.

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Comments

  • FileMe
    July 23

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    I love the atmosphere this poem evokes. I'm left wanting more though. Focusing on the characters of the "motley crowd" still leaves me without an image of what the Sally Ann looks like. Including more description about the place surrounding them would give a more complete image.


    • williamstown silver member
      July 23
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      The Salvation Army is a Christian group. They have ranks like captain and major and wear navy blue uniforms, but that`s as far as their militarism extends. They play their band instruments at street corners to raise money for good causes. The girls sell their publication `War Cry`in pubs on a Saturday night, without fear of molestation. I love their carols in shopping centres at Christmas. During the bleak years of WW11, no matter how remote the East Anglian airfield might be one would always find a warm welcome, a cup of tea and a bun at their wooden shack always known as the Red Shield Club. I have a lot of respect for them. In towns and cities they sometimes run shelters, and a night`s kip in a clean bed for a pittance.


  • Legend silver member
    July 18

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    One could almost believe you had experienced these things Though i am sure you are far to proud to have even thought of it
    A wonderful poem with great flow and rhyme Excellent