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Homelessness and Freedom

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07-04-2010 at 04:55:52 AM

Homelessness and Freedom

A Man, Remember’d


With a cardboard sign held tight

There he stood, rugged and old

Veteran Please Help! -inscrib‘d

Yet no story, need be told

　

Vehicles past the road side

Each pretending not to see-

The hero , left forgotten

The hero, who fought for you and me

　

I reached into my open purse

Then picked out a crisp, green note

Eye’d the president's profile

;and the words government wrote

　

In God We Trust, the bill claim’d

I wonder’d if that held true-

For a man that owned no land

Who would die for red, white, and blue

　

My son was my companion

That day by the super-store

Ten years old, and full of life

He ask’d’ Can’t we give him more?’

　

I smiled as I pulled over

The man came beside my car

His face was dry and tired

His clothes worn, and stain’d with tar

　

I offer’d him ten dollars

‘Bless you‘, I quietly said

My son asked,’ Are you homeless?’

With pride he then shook his head

　

His voice was cracked from the sun

Tho’ clearly we heard his reply

‘As long as I can walk this land-

I have a home under the sky’


‘I ‘am sorry’, my son then said

As a tear filled his blue eye

‘I’ m sorry, you fought for me’

;and then, began to cry

　

The man stared at us a while

Gently closed his hand on mine

‘Son I would do it all again-

So you’ll never have to hold this sign’

　

I held his hand to my cheek

I could feel his tatter’d flesh

He studied both our faces

To lock the memory fresh

　

My son rose one last question

Before we told him goodbye

‘Excuse me sir, when is your birthday?’

‘Son- it is every Fourth of July.’

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08-06-2010 at 11:22:24 AM

RE: Homelessness and Freedom

I am crying now, because I just read it

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08-06-2010 at 11:44:04 AM

RE: Homelessness and Freedom


A Wonderful "pen" of the vets who stand with signs of homeless or needing

YOUR heart is so Kind ....

as you help and inspire others to help...

beautiful ~

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09-13-2010 at 09:46:38 PM

RE: RE: Homelessness and Freedom

Quote:
Originally Posted by Springsize


A Wonderful "pen" of the vets who stand with signs of homeless or needing

YOUR heart is so Kind ....

as you help and inspire others to help...

beautiful ~


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So it is, Lil' Sis! So it is! Why the 4th,of July? is it a significant date?
Our chronic problem, in Jamaica, ,is homeless street children. Though homes are provided by the State and by voluntary organizations, many prefer to remain on the streets of Kingston. Read my, "Ballad of Redemption,"

Last edited by cousinsoren 09-14-2010 at 07:04:52 PM

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09-13-2010 at 09:46:38 PM

RE: RE: Homelessness and Freedom

Quote:
Originally Posted by Springsize


A Wonderful "pen" of the vets who stand with signs of homeless or needing

YOUR heart is so Kind ....

as you help and inspire others to help...

beautiful ~


######################################################################

So it is, Lil' Sis! So it is! Why the 4th,of July? is it a significant date?
Our chronic problem, in Jamaica, ,is homeless street children. Though homes are provided by the State and by voluntary organizations, many prefer to remain on the streets of Kingston. Read my, "Ballad of Redemption,"

Last edited by cousinsoren 09-18-2010 at 03:33:04 PM

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09-18-2010 at 10:34:05 AM

RE: Homelessness and Freedom

HARD THING TO THINK ABOUT AND KNOW WE SHOW OUR FELLOW CITIZENS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE RESPECT WE SHOULD. AND IF THEY ARE HOMELESS EVEN LESS THAN THAT............GOD BLESS......AND I CAN'T WAIT TO READ SORENS REDEMPTION POEM....

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Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does.

Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) U.S. poet.
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