Then we are the heartless
His eyes, cimmerian pools
Conscious waters we dare not tread
His words, rendered null and void
And so he holds the sign
Of failure, defined
As if guilty of existence
Beaten by this steel wool system
Of surface scratchers
Mirrored and jagged
Buffing them up
To send them back out
Dead people live on this street
Like the gray of pigeons, pecking
For rations of sweet sanity
Between dagger eyes
And swift kicks
Tears siphoned back from the edge
Hold more truth than sorrow
Tiny little diamonds
Of the highest clarity
Squinting, scanning for prospects
The sun exposes his lines
A tally of tragedies
His glance, as empty as pockets
Races past the la-de-da
Seeking one heart, unbiased
One heart that drops the dollar
Without assuming it’s next exchange
And as it free falls to the pavement
He struggles to remember
How it felt to not be treated
Like a modern day leper
Sharing this with dVerse ~ Open Link Night
Image credit: pixabay.com
mishunderstood 
This is stunning: “His eyes, cimmerian pools”
The whole thing is a masterpiece. Really incredible work.
Very kind comments, Nebraska. Thank you so much. 🙂
Sadly I have seen them around the Toronto streets, sitting in one corner or sleeping at the sidewalk ~ I specially like the way you described him here:
A tally of tragedies
His glance, as empty as pockets
Thank you, Grace. I have a hard time accepting this part of our so called “humanity”.
I feel great compassion and benevolence in your words for these outcast of our society, Mish. It seems our society struggles mightily with this inhumane issue.
Yes, Gayle…and I think it is a very complicated issue. At the same time, it needs to be resolved.
I couldn’t agree more! xo
Mish, this is a powerful poem. I don’t come across many street people out here in the country but I’m always shocked when I go to London. You’ve really captured the despair in ‘His eyes, cimmerian pools / Conscious waters we dare not tread’ and ‘Dead people live on this street /
Like the gray of pigeons, pecking / For rations of sweet sanity’.
I also like: ‘The sun exposes his lines / A tally of tragedies’.
Thanks Kim. It is an issue dear to my heart as I just can’t understand why we can’t resolve it in countries such as ours.
I agree with everyone. This is quite powerful, indeed.
Thank you, NJ. 🙂
As if guilty of existence… what a phrase to describe him.. and how often we pass ashamed, as
he is partly made of us… actually there are so many phrases that I love in this it’s hard to quote a single one… stunning work
Thank you SO much, Bjorn. I truly value your opinion on this one. Had sent it in to a Poetry Prize awhile back, thousands of entries, so was not that disappointed but have been holding on to it…..perhaps for the anthology. 🙂
I think so 🙂
A very powerful poem and so many homeless suffer from mental health issues and fall between the cracks in the systems. We do not see many homeless here but when we lived in London I would buy them cups of tea or give them food and we had many heart-warming conversations. Human connection is everything and in some cases we were able to point them in the right direction for housing. Little acts of kindness go a long way.
Aww, Xenia…I love to hear stories like this. So many people cannot even look them in the eyes. Thanks for your kindness in this world and your comments.
You are very welcome Mish, have a blessed weekend :o)
“As if guilty of existence”… Very potent imagery and turns of phrase, incisively describing the destitution and despair. I’ve been homeless and it’s unimaginably dehumanizing. Strangely enough, even with a complete change in circumstances to a home and creature comforts, that sense of marginalization, othering and displacement hasn’t gone away.
This breaks my heart, MW. I think so many are misinformed about the sources of homelessness, and how it could easily happen to them. I am recently unemployed and I can imagine the spiral that could take someone there. The dehumanizing you speak of is so unacceptable and I’m so sorry this has happened for you and others. It would definitely be hard to forget that type of scrutiny. Thank you for sharing so openly. Sending you love and hugs.
Your kindness and understanding is greatly appreciated. I hope you find employment soon. Oodles of love and (((hugs))) to you 💜💞
Some really powerful lines here: the steel wool system
that only serves to buff them up before sending them back out.
Heartfelt yet restrained in its execution, and so all the more shattering.
Thank you, MarinaSofia. I appreciate your insightful comment on the style. 🙂
I’m agreeing with Nebraska J – this is a masterpiece of empathy and observation. Loved.
Thank you so much! 🙂
I came back to read this again.. it is so beautifully written. And everyone’s comments here are just as beautiful.
Annika, thank you for the second read…such a wonderful compliment. So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Beautiful Mish! As I went to vote yesterday, I wondered how many homeless people might be helped with all the senseless money spent on campaigning. Just all the street signs would be a good start. Love your empathy here.
Thank you, Beverly….and that is so true…so much wasted money on ridiculousness.
thoughtful and beautifully written. 🙂
Thank you, Imelda….and for stopping by to read. 🙂
Too easy to see the beggars/homeless as pariahs and forget that these are people too…with their own hopes and wishes.
Exactly!
Thanks for those thoughts, Bryan.
Beautiful and poignant. I volunteer at a homeless shelter in Windsor every Monday. Recently, a man collapsed and died a block away. People wouldn’t stop to see if he was okay, we heard later. They thought he was just “another of the homeless”. He died in front of the apartment building he owned. So sad…
Reminds me we are all created in Gods image, and that includes those who are homeless!
Absolutely. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
This is brilliant and quite sad. You drew us into that man’s agony and reminded us all of the humanity we consistently fail.
This is a very good poem. I wrote about my ow experience of being homeless in my poem Camelot. (https://madpoetenchained.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/camelot/ )