Original image from homegroup.org.uk
I’ve been sitting here awhile.
My cup is empty.
No matter, I like watching human traffic.
Foreign students chatter by.
Her! She passes every day;
fresh long hair, a breezy skirt, so beautiful;
the picture of my love when I promised her the universe.
Now there’s a young man with determination in his stride;
his tie flapping across his chest; his briefcase full of ambition;
I remember those days, before this.
A fretful girl struggles with her double pram. Are my children all grown up now?
As the world turns a dog sniffs my shoe.
Clink. Silver hits my cup. I salute you.
©Anna Ghislena 2013
This was another 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups . To take part head for this link : http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week107/
October 5th, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Very effective. The suspense begins early and holds your reader until the revelation of the last two sentences.
October 7th, 2013 at 9:02 am
Thanks for these kind comments Sandra. The piece seems to have achieved what I wanted from it.
October 7th, 2013 at 2:54 am
Wow. Beautiful. Every sentence is like a puzzle piece, and they all click into place with the last line. Well done!
-Alicia Audrey
http://www.aliciaaudrey.com/blog/100wordstory-firewall/
October 7th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Thank you Alicia. I am glad you enjoyed it.
October 10th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
It took me a minute – I had to re-read the last line! Brilliantly done.
October 11th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Thank you Rachael. I always wonder why or how people have fallen upon the misfortune to live on the streets. I wish it wasn’t so. Thanks for reading.
June 12th, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Excellent poem. I have sat with many panhandlers, your poem captures the atmosphere perfectly.
June 12th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Thank you Dennis
June 12th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
So spare and beautiful.
June 12th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Thank you for taking the time to read it Erica. Very much appreciated. Anna x
June 15th, 2015 at 8:01 pm
You’re welcome, Anna.
June 12th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Reblogged this on Takeshi's Flight and commented:
This poem is indeed humanistic. Every verse is breathtaking; the narration is simple, but the author weaved the words effectively. This is a masterpiece!
June 12th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Thank you for reading Sueju and for your very kind words. Anna x
June 12th, 2015 at 5:27 pm
No problem, Anna. You deserve that. 🙂
June 12th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Thank you Dennis.
June 12th, 2015 at 6:12 pm
Thank you for sharing.
June 12th, 2015 at 7:31 pm
Thank you for taking the time to read it. Very much appreciated. anna x
June 12th, 2015 at 7:23 pm
Really made me imagine all the things you mentioned in the poem.
June 12th, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Thank you Katerzyna, that is kind. Anna x
June 12th, 2015 at 10:17 pm
Simple and moving poem.
June 13th, 2015 at 7:07 am
Thank you for reading it. Anna x
June 13th, 2015 at 4:00 am
A poignant description of what goes through the heads of the homeless. I have known many (a lot of them veterans). I remember one man named Tommy whom I found one afternoon sitting on the sidewalk angry because someone had purchased food for him. He lived on Mad Dog 20/20. He once gave me his only dime because that was what I was short on a soda. We shared the soda. I think about him frequently because I haven’t seen him in years. I fear his alcoholism finally took him away from the world.
You have done a wonderful job of bringing a human factor to those that many discount or step over in their hurry to get where they are going. There is a lot to be learned from the homeless; humility, gratitude and appreciation for what you do have rather than wanting more than you need, and not least, the value of humanity.
June 13th, 2015 at 7:00 am
Wherever Tommy is now, I hope he is safe and loved. Thank you for sharing that and for reading my poem. Your words are most appreciated. Anna x
June 13th, 2015 at 3:59 pm
I fear Tommy has gone to his version of a better place. I am certain that he was a well-loved person who simply couldn’t face his personal demons. He was frequently very very drunk, but he was harmless and people didn’t really understand that about him. He was a fixture along with many other homeless people around the college I went to. I haven’t seen some of those people in a long time, and I often wonder what happened in their lives. I wonder if they got back on their feet or as is more common, they simply moved on. I know some of them died; some quite violently. I pray every day that they are safe and loved. It is a big problem that really needs to be addressed at higher levels.
June 14th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Reblogged this on Notes From The Margins and commented:
Art about homelessness. Nice!
June 14th, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Thank you for sharing my poem. Anna x