Poetry

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Are You On The Front Line?
by Bud Burke, REVD Ministry

The homeless old woman, a rag-dressed bum,
panhandling the corner with tin can drums
Seeing rich leather shoes go strolling along,
hoping for quarters as she bangs out her song
Afraid of their looks she pretends she is blind
while waiting for you. Are you on the front line?

He sits in the corner of a bar by the tracks,
searching ashtrays 'cause he won't buy a pack
He spends his last cash on a beer and a shot,
wonders what's left that hasn't been hocked
Shivers in fear for the drink he won't find
while waiting for you. Are you on the front line?

She works the night shift and sleeps off the days,
a hooker, a whore, a lot-lizard they say
She's sweet or she's mean, a trucker's delight,
she'll be as he wants her if the money is right
Immune to the pain from time after time
while waiting for you. Are you on the front line?

A Dealer, Enforcer, why he's done it all,
a brother to brothers who'll answer their call
The colors he flies he'll fly to his death
and ride out his pride to his very last breath
Yet he battles the demons playing hard on his mind
while waiting for you. Are you on the front line?

Yes there in the bars, the streets and the roads
are children of God, some young and some old
Drunkards and Hookers and slow-dying Users,
Bikers and Gangsters and Women Abusers
Destined for Hell, growing short on their time
while waiting for you..... Are you on the front line?

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