Day 24 - Breathing

24th Oct 2019


Day 24 - OctPoWriMo  2019

Breathing

Crowds

Breathe mist into icy air

Scurry along this  dark evening,

Eager to get to ...

Theatres, Shows,  meetings with

Friends.

Keep cold at bay with

Furs, scarves, hats, gloves.

Hurry past...

Past railings

Where you're sat on

Your cardboard mat

Past...

You...
In  the air

Tempting aromas - burgers,,
chips,  onions,

( I've always loved the smell of frying onions).

You,

Hunched over,.

Hands gnarled, red

 "a man of the road".

They, look away.

Are you invisible ?

No, they don't want to see..

Don't want, to "get involved"

Make excuses:

"There's no need for anyone to be

Hungry in this country"

Your blanket,
pulled up under your chin,

little protection.

A small family notice,

See you,

Are moved,

Bring coffee, chips.

A cheery word,

Acknowledge you,

Listen to you,

Then go their way,

You, watch,
Hands caressing warm cup
You, smile...

No Chicken

1st April
Now it begins- napowrimo.
Day 1


No Chicken

You sit,

Hunched over,

on the cold pavement,

a colourful sleeping bag

pulled up under your chin,

It seems futile against

this crisp March morning,

Strategically,

carefully,  you've chosen

your place,

next to the steps
that lead 

to the the doors

of the St Benedict's  Church.

You reach out to me,

 hands gnarled, greasy,

 gritted with the road,
Your eyes search me,

 hopefully,

find their way to a  corner

of my soul

"Are you hungry?
Can I get you a sandwich?"
"Yes, thanks..."
Is that an Albanian accent?
"What kind would you like?"

I leave  you that dignity,

won't presume to choose.

"Chicken please..."
"No chicken left, 

what about
 ham and cheese?"
"That's fine, Thank you"
polite, refined, 

what brought you here?

You take my hand.
I wish I could take you home.
I find myself sitting beside you,
we talk for a bit,
I leave

to go back  to my,

centrally heated house

White Rose

           Day 20



           White Rose

One rose , left all alone in the late October cold
One rose, a white bud breaking open in the autumn sun
One rose, in the corner of the garden
The only remembrance of summer's happy colours
There , reminding us of a life lost  - six years ago
A pure delicate rose -  in Heaven now