I watched her today as she passed me by
carrying a stick in her hand
she paused now and then just long enough
to stir through the garbage cans
too thinly clad for this cold day
...she's homeless.
Back towards me she limps
bringing bags to her doorway home
stooping to inspect trinkets from the street
she claims them for her own
how does it happen in America
that's she's homeless?
She has no one to talk with her
so she chatters to herself
I watch as people quickly pass
do they wish that they could help?
in this land of golden opportunity why
is she homeless?
Perhaps she may just be content
to live the way she does
rules might simply have held no appeal
for the women that she was
and so she left it all behind for freedom
...now she's homeless.
Or maybe the bills piled higher and higher
as she struggled to make ends meet
and then one day she found to her horror
her belongings tossed out in the street
not knowing what to do, with nowhere to turn
she's homeless.
Of course I won't know unless I ask
so maybe I'll walk on over
if she won't accept the offer of shelter
I'll offer my coat for cover
her daily reality defies comprehension
...she's homeless.
Read more articles by Claudette Wood or search for articles on the same topic or others.
You have a wonderful way of capturing the truth in things and giving me shivers. Well written! I love the repetition of "she's homeless" at the end of each stanza.
Claudette your very moving inspirational poem is good. Did you know my sister, it can be sung to the tune of Phil Collins number one world-wide hit "Another day in Paradise"....this song also covers the topic of homelessness!! Claudette try humming it and see for yourself it works!!!
