Homeless
these mountains offer no trail upwards to those not allowed inside-
guarded within from those who reside in these concrete gorges between,
surviving, when they do, on the excess heat expelled, the refuse of
the guarded guests who are allowed to the heights either vacant or
penetrating their eyes seem to range between these extremes Wall
Street back alley urine cardboard brown bag shredded cloth wrapped
grey skin wrinkled windburn frost bitten finger toe hole in shoe
pocket rattles with cast-off treasure drops of coffee wine dumpster
fries compete with cat pigeon rat roach ant freedom fear frozen
forgotten frustrated fist robbed beaten harrassed arrested released to
cold concrete from warm cell go on grope beg hope slide stumble stop
stare ache sharp dull cold hot hard hard hard hurt
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ma never-- got change? they let us all out of there I see the others
here and there the hospital is closed - no money before they booted us
soc worker said they say com-munity care instead do they? spare some
change? they dont act seem to want us they say not across from our
house what about my kids? so out on this grate I lie the hospital roof
tiles are falling off I walked back out there once to see the weeds
growing up the state for sale sign its a big place lot of ole
buildings all of us would fit but they patrol the grounds worse
harrassment then he..
got change? and no heat at all a leaky roof in winter isnt enough no
passersby no food no booze nothing so here I lie on this grate aint it
great I hate the city but the county is worse the shelters always full
and they stink grope for stuff on me kids crying moms yell look at me
in fear cant rest in that crowd I stink I know but its my stink I dont
notice anym.. got change? ..
sorry I slip asleep sometimes dream sort of awake a tattoo that means
I belong pierce my skin put it all underneath it cant go anywhere then
escape from me keep it all right here puddles
Hope
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