Homeless Christmas!

@bookbar (1609)
Sudbury, England
December 22, 2015 12:00pm CST
Christmas again, in my cardboard box, No Turkey dinner, no new socks. Everyone rushing, here and there No time to smile, nor even care. I,once was there, among that throng Now I'm the Loser, as it all went wrong. Had I have cared a little more, Would I have been shown that lonely door? Now no home,no family nor friends to care No Christmas spirit,nor Santa gifts to share. *********************************************** Jenny A~
20 people like this
23 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Dec 15
It must be hard at any time To live outside among the grime We do know that some charities exist Who try their hardest to assist But the public rarely offer assistance And walk on by into the distance Walking past them in this fashion Is not just a lack of compassion It is hard to tell the genuine ones From those many begging cons Who live in homes, but beg from greed Making it hard to tell who is in need
3 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Dec 15
@bookbar This has long been a problem and should be dealt with properly by the authorities. It infuriates me that so many draw benefits and still beg on the streets. I am certainly not the only person who is faced with a quandary, I refuse to give money or any other assistance to those parasites but this results in me ignoring those who are genuinely in need of help.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
23 Dec 15
@Asylum Super poem and very true... the needy fall foul of the 'scammers' just as on the Net...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157016)
• United States
22 Dec 15
Very touching poem. I know some who are without, sometimes it has nothing to do with what they did, but just circumstances all around.
3 people like this
• Canada
22 Dec 15
I agree. Circumstances can put people in a desperate situation. If a person loses their job because of a company's downsizing, for example, their family will suffer until they find a new job. Some of those people have a hard time finding new work. Sometimes families break down as a result of the stress and the downward spiral begins.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
22 Dec 15
@GardenGerty Yes you are right, while we know some are just born layabouts, there are many who have genuinely fallen on real hard times, and as I said below....'there but for the grace of God'.........
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
23 Dec 15
My family was homeless just a few months ago. Thank God we found an amazing church that helped us so much. We are much better now-but we don't have our own place just yet. We will definitely be helping others when we are on our feet again, we know how it feels being homeless and we want to help.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
23 Dec 15
@bookbar Yes it can! My husband broke his ankle and was out of work-which is what put us there. I always say most people are ONE paycheck away from being homeless. It is a scary thought but very true.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
23 Dec 15
Good for you and hope you get your own place really soon, some people don't seem to understand, that homelessness can hit any of us when circumstances go wrong. Love to you and your family and a very Merry christmas..
1 person likes this
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
23 Dec 15
A very meaningful poem. Well written and portrays that fear we all have.
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11133)
22 Dec 15
Anybody waking up homeless on any day of the year is a disgrace, regardless of whether it's a 'choice' or not. I always try to put a little something in the food bank at Tesco because I know that none of us are immune to life taking a turn for the worse and it could very well be me in that position one day. A friend of mine doesn't understand homelessness and thinks it's just people sleeping in doorways and begging on the street. It's so much more varied than that. So sad.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
22 Dec 15
@Poppylicious... Your friend seems to agree with Destry... but you're right it is much more complex... and 'there but for the grace of God'........
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
22 Dec 15
@Poppylicious Yes it is and what cost education?.... whatever form it takes, it's a scandal that should not happen in a 'civilised' society... so how civilised are we really?
22 Dec 15
@bookbar I know a lot of students at the college where I work who have to live in hostels or 'sofa-surf' from one friend's house to another. It's just another form of homelessness. :(
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Dec 15
It breaks my heart, I often buy food for the homeless on the street. I would rather give food than money.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
22 Dec 15
@fishtiger58 I to think that's a sensible approach, that way they don't waste it on booze or other comforters.... but in this day and age and 'civilised' communities, why is it happening/..
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
22 Dec 15
@fishtiger58 This is so, my argument too... our government aka David Cameron, just seems hell bent on providing Aid either to countries that don't actually need it, as in China or to dodgy third world rulers, with very deep pockets, and those really in need never see any of... so what about your own 'needy', of which we too have thousands.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Dec 15
@bookbar I have been saying it for years,. In the US we have thousands living on the streets and eating out of garbage cans. We need to take care of them before we give handouts to other countries.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36261)
• Toccoa, Georgia
23 Dec 15
That is a sad poem but it unfortunately is how many people are these days.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
23 Dec 15
Ahh that is so sad a poem.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22412)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
23 Dec 15
So sad, so true. Didn't really notice the picture on the first read, but now I read it, yes - a crying shame.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
22 Dec 15
I've seen people living in cardboard boxes in New York. This was only some hours after our arrival. I hadn't expected that and was shocked.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
22 Dec 15
@MALUSE Oh, we have plenty in London and most other big cities and towns, just as in the USA
@destry (2572)
• Kirkwall, Scotland
22 Dec 15
Hmmm, I think I have mentioned my views before about homeless, - that I think it is a matter of personal choice that people are homeless.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
22 Dec 15
I would agree sometimes, but not always,...circumstances have a nasty habit of catching you unawares, which even 'successful' people can be caught out by....
1 person likes this
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
23 Dec 15
Very touching poem! I hate knowing this is happening right now in our country
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
23 Dec 15
@Castlerock34 Unfortunately it's happening everywhere, with politicians shutting their eyes to the problem, as it's not a vote winner.
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
23 Dec 15
@bookbar Agreed! I mean you cant ignore it forever can you
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (1763)
• United Kingdom
23 Dec 15
very touching and brilliantly written.....some food for thought there.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
23 Dec 15
@Traceyjayne Thank you very kind, wishing you a very Happy Christmas, hopefully not in a cardboard box
• India
23 Dec 15
Every trouble we face in our lives teaches us an important lesson. In your poem I notice lot of pain, don't worry I hope that every thing would be fine soon. Merry Christmas.
1 person likes this
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
23 Dec 15
@noblewriter A very Merry Christmas to you to***
@celticeagle (157563)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Dec 15
What a wonderfully on spot poem. Very nicely done.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Dec 15
Yes Jenny we must recall the less fortunate and also do what we can to help.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Dec 15
I feel being that kind of person today simply because of my greed, not much to earn but i still chose greed. I once very kind and giving but some how I stray from that path.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64363)
• United Kingdom
23 Dec 15
Touching poem - a lot of these people are victim of circumstance.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
22 Dec 15
Nice one! There by the grace of God go I.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323652)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Dec 15
It must be really difficult for some people at Christmas.
1 person likes this