Homeless on the Streets of LA
Ambivalent glares fall short of care,
as superficial eyes see not, nor sympathize
with reality, as judge some must in non-contested style,
a vilifying that is not understood,
just judged on face value.
Bums and homeless people are all the same,
like refuse upon the curb,
and not a word of sympathy or support,
for those who have fallen short
of societal expectations.
I’ve seen people step over them,
as if they were an object of disdain,
a nameless obstacle to a sentient mind,
not attuned, nor compassionate,
just a vague dismissive acknowledgement.
How can humanity be so cruel,
do the homeless not have families too,
walked the same paths in life,
worked and owned but somehow fell from grace,
to now be stricken with acid looks of malice?
Treated like common vermin,
they are scattered come morning,
from doorways and pavements, their temporary home,
and they just limp off to a sunny spot,
a park where they can be alone.
Many drink to oblivion, but many do not,
just holding onto hope that life could change,
this hard edged reality a penance, for past mistakes,
and then freedom to awaken a new dawn,
an opportunity to once again stand tall.
But who will care, what compassion is left,
each day as the city streets of LA
are filled with life in decay,
vacant eyes and hopeless tolls are paid,
as each day the wheels begin their turning.
I stare into their faces, so lost of all dignity,
of hope and praise, for they are castaways
in cement oceans, marginalized and kept in abeyance,
as around them Hollywood glitters its ironic tinsel,
while truth echoes in rising spires of wealth.
Tony DeLorger © 2018
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Homeless people have their dreams and hopes. Sleep comes easy for them after a long day of being shoved from place to place and on their feet most the time. We have a park downtown by the Truckee River where many of the homeless lay down early evening and sleep there all night. Usually they are not stirred awake by the police to move on. People would have more compassion for these homeless if they stopped to think that if luck turned they just might be homeless also – sometimes situations can change over night to leave someone homeless. Great work, Tony, full of compassion and understanding.
Thanks Phyllis, yes that’s true, saw a special once about a family: husband, wife and two kids. Husband lost his job and in six months they were all living in a car. The homeless are just people in a circumstance any of us could be in, so judging them less for it is not only ignorance but harsh. The world needs more compassion and understanding. Take care.
PS. When I was in LA, just coudn’t believe how many homeless there were, thus this piece.
Not sure who you are, but find posting your own work on someone else’s comments page is rather inappropriate, or perhaps even arrogant. If you have something to say in regard to this work you are welcome, but otherwise post on your own pages.
Hi Tony. I placed Chris Black’s comment in SPAM. He also posted a poem on one of John Hansen’d poems comment section. I do not know Chris Black, he is not a TCE member nor has he applied for membership. I sent him an email at christopher.black@myclick.ie (which was in his information when he posted) to let him know his actions are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
If he does this again, please mark it as SPAM and it will disappear from your page. I am so sorry this happened on your post and John’s post.
Thanks Phyllis.