The Night Shelter.
A man is only a bone.
I think that as I see a man eating a bone,
As I see another picking his nose,
Another crying
And holding his toes…
Someone wants a smoke
Another man shouts
A helper comes along
Threatens to throw him out.
The blankets are smelly
The night is cold,
I do not undress
Sleep in my clothes.
This is where I am,
Where I try to sleep,
Where I dream
Where I weep.
I once had a life,
Three kids a wife.
All gone now,
I got into dept
By how much?
Oh I forget…
I sleep and I wake
For for fuck’s sake
I need a wet.
I grab my few things
Someone is saying
I stole his wedding ring.
I take a slash
Swallow some hash
Or whatever trash
They put into it,
For all one gets offered here
Is utter shit.
I wish now I had stayed
In a shop door-way
At least there I was someone,
A man, a king…
And no old fellow
I didn’t steal your fucking ring!
—
blackie fortuna.
Comments (28)
Why do I feel that this was written from a jail cell?
Your work has a lot of meaning to me, as I used to be a guard at a jail.
LordPineapple, try this link for Larry Gross. http://members.tripod.com/~theWORDshop/index.htm If you have trouble, let me know; he’s got links to all sorts of cool Asian poetry.
The desesperate song of a man that it remains nothing to except his poor bones . A man excluded from the society .
In friendship Michel
The poetry and comments combine making such an interesting read today. I’m glad you shared! Infinite Blessings
well it is from a cell, isn’t it? desperation mixed with confusion and fear. incredibly done.
there’s alot of regret in that one…but slightly comedic..thanks for today’s comments..but that first poem was actually lyrics to a Radiohead song..as for the “black-eyed angels”, I’m not quite sure if they were pirates or not..i’ll have to look that one up…
Very visual and sensory provoking images. I knew exactly where we were with this poem. Loved this bit
This is where I am,
Where I try to sleep,
Where I dream
Where I weep.
A night shelter for the homeless is sort of like a jail cell…
Very sad poem. So many people in this world need help to get out of a deep hole. Some say they do not want help. We can help them anyway. One or more at a time.
Nice poem, really.
There are so many hopeless, helpless, homeless and forgotten. The world is full of them, around the globe. Too many people, not enough resources and concern has dwindled. Those in positions to do something have not the abilities to understand most of the time as they have never walked the mile. I wonder how this will all turn our and if there will be a world filled with homeless before all is said and done. I think live each day as though it is your last may be the best of advice.
A few things for you to look at, if any of them suit you, we will get it up on your site. Click Here and Here and Here Again.
Powerful.
This shines a harsh light on a problem with no easy answers. Homeless shelters, alas, are often worse than sleeping in a doorway in the eyes of those they are designed for.
i felt like this was a homeless man…
the desperation is very loud with this one…
wow first i read of blacky…i like him
t
You took me there with your words.
Lisa
hmmm maybe we can send the sarah’s to a three headed bird shelter….with cats for roomies
..I loved the poem…it speaks of realness…of life!
Very nice. Never swarmed while reading a piece before. I sense some tense, moody background music if you ever do live spots with music! Write on!
Lord Pineapple: Thanks for bringing my attention to the URL problem for my websites. I had no idea it was wrong. It was correct when I entered it, but that was years ago. Maybe when I changed from Paid Up Good Guy to Freeloading Jerk something went amiss. Oh well. The URL Cheri gave above will work, but it is an old one. The up-to-date one for theWORDshop is http://thewordshop.tripod.com/index.htm
Lord Pineapple: Thanks for bringing my attention to the URL problem for my websites. I had no idea it was wrong. It was correct when I entered it, but that was years ago. Maybe when I changed from Paid Up Good Guy to Freeloading Jerk something went amiss. Oh well. The URL Cheri gave above will work, but it is an old one. The up-to-date one for theWORDshop is http://thewordshop.tripod.com/index.htm
This is way too sad too. You need to think happy thoughts, uplifting thoughts, positive poetry. You have to want to be happy and work at it. . . in my opinion.
No, of course you didn’t. I just don’t wear it any longer. They’ll never call me to the witness box against you.
your poetry has a way of linger-ing…around in my head.
I rather like that.
I am enjoying the experience of getting to know all of you…
I have almost given in to my ego and started a second personna….nahhh but I have fun with yours.
“A man is only a bone”
very cool opening line. grabs the reader by the throat.
lisa
Excellent piece. I’m real close to identifying.
Yay for the banner! As one of the ranks of the new banner folk, I welcome you. And I agree about the houses poem… I kept saying to my husband: “It’s very Dr. Suess, no?” Which isn’t altogether bad, but not what I was really going for. Sometimes you can rhyme too much.
I like the rhythm and rhyme of this poem by Blackie.
~Laura
hey love the poem love the new look
and why are you still not winking and waving from that pic 
get with it man 
hehe
The Night Shelter poem made me cry. It’s heartbreaking and unfortunately, so very true. Thanks for sharing it with us
I enjoyed this poem, but the last one about ‘Brian’ struck me hard. It was beautiful and simple and utterly perfect. Thanks for sharing that with the world.
~Leah
I feel in love with this poem.
You have a lot of talent.
Me…i’m some mesely wanna be poet. I was published in one book! One book!
Anyway…
I could see exaclty what you were getting at in this poem.
It was wonderful.
~katt~
(ohh dont be alarmed if your name appears on my sub list…damn computers!)
my home is an idea i have yet to see and feel. it isn’t your age. im stuck in mud as well. i remember what it feels like to “run”, i can only hope I get a chance to again before i forget. your running isn’t over yet.