Alert: Planned Site Outage Tonight: Tue. Mar 17th, 10pm-Midnight PST
my care2
make a difference

community

shares

share your passions, stories, inspirations, and more

A Fall into the Streets . . . A Poem by Shirl A. Steward
Mar 6, 2006

A fall into the Streets
 
Forty stories high
A pillar of smoky gray glass
Towering far above,
A set of blue gray eyes peer
at rubbled streets of New York Live.
 
Are they real?
these stone faced ones
who come and go, seemingly untouched
by the ragged denizens,
worn by impoverish resolution,
forced to beg, grateful for any kindness
turned their way?

The custodians of the glass giants
are numb, indifferent . . .
Indeed, they have no call
to serve as guardians,
not responsible at all
for what the drop outs eat
or where they sleep.
Why shouldn't there be
annoyance, anger at the presence,
the arrogance of those who willing
gave up the right to play the corporate game,
too soon beat, to them belongs the blame
for acceptance of defeat.
Could it be that the cloudy loft dweller
fears his comrade's ill fate
could soon be his own?
Has fear made his into
a hollowed shell afraid to feel?
Perhaps only time will tell.
Whether he will dare to peal
away the mask he wears.
which fools only him
into believing his world is real
separate, apart
for all that lives and breathes
totally unresponsible for the rest.

Such a narrow ledge he walks
with others like himself
thinking themselves immune
from banishment, no danger of being ousted
from the pillared nest,
refusing to see how close they are
to tumbling from the edge.
Safety, at best, only an illusion
a place for weary minds to rest.
 
Life's two sided coin could flip
to reveal luxury's alternative,
homeless anonymity, has come
to end life's favorite
solitary dream . . . "forever after"ness.
 
How different are they really
from their bedless brothers
to whom they throw dimes,
like a butcher throwing
scraps to stray pups.
Dehumanized and broken
their brothers little more than
degenerating trash, they think,
who rather down a flash
of booze than nurse a bowl of soup,

Aimlessly wandering mindlessly
from bar to cardboard box.
 
Alas, it's hard to tell
who's number's up
Dread disease and products obsolete
bring new faces to the street,
Fate's call is not to please.
Rags have turned to barely
soiled business wear,
straggly, unkept hair
now shorter, almost trim.
Surprisingly humorous is the fall
of the vultures from the air,
Our culture's finest oxymoron.
Risen from the streets, then
From their lofty perch to the feet
of those they once considered
too lowly born to shed a care
Their own embarrassment
now too much to bare
with no one near
enough to hear,. . . to share.

By Shirl A. Steward,
Written and Copyright 9/22/94.
.
Visibility: Everyone
Posted: Monday March 6, 2006, 1:28 am
Tags: [add/edit tags]

Group Discussions start a discussion
Comments add comment
Compose your comment and submit:

Author

Shirl Steward
Author Tools:
Compose New Share
female, age 60, divorced, 2 children
Seattle, WA, USA
SHIRL'S SHARES
Feb
4
(0 comments  |  discussions )
True PowerThe power to manipulateIs as greatAs thatThat would create.As such they are the same,Building and destroying,But if love is in the heartInstead of hateWe form not theDisillusioned, broken manBut create the spirit of a giantReady to meetThe c...
(0 comments  |  discussions )
A Penny for Your TearsIf only I could, I would, but I can't.If only I could, I wouldturn every tear you've ever shedinto a magic potion whichmiraculously transformsthem tenfold into warm and joyousexpressions of gratitudefor the love that awakens and...
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Dreams a' blooming To my friend Toni, you are gone but still live in my dreamsDreams are much like flowers.They germinate from planted seed -invoking much in mental stimulations.They bud, so beautiful they are,so full of the wondrous novelty of bir...
Feb
3
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Master of Disguise To my favorite actor and long time friend, T.G. CodyMystery man, who are you now, a jack of all the talents of the stage?Are you a clown pretending with a silly frown when smiles inside are nowhere to be found?Are you a mime in ...


ads keep care2 free
SHARES FROM SHIRL'S NETWORK
May
15
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Stacey is giving back by trying to help other abuse victims. Please visit her new website: Healing Sisters "Healing Sisters is a resource for victims of sexual abuse to come together, share their stories and heal their wounds. Create an account, wri...
Apr
29
by No B.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
My new web site http://www.craigclarkfoun dation.org
Feb
23
(1 comments  |  discussions )
State of the Economy, 2/09With an economy in shambles, people are going to be distraught— it’s unavoidable and many of them have the right to be angry— they’ve fallen victim to a poorly managed economy, irresponsible corporate...
Feb
18
by Paul B.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Cartoons of B. Kliban
by Paul B.
(0 comments  |  discussions )


ads keep care2 free
MORE MEMBER BLOGS
Jul 5
Blog: The Obama Deception maybe Obama is just a puppet by Oswaldo Z.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — Get the DVD @ http://infowars-shop.stor es... http://www.obamaimpeachme nt... The Obama Deception is a hard-hitting film that completely destroys the myth that Barack Obama is working for the best i...     http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=e... more
Blog: The Obama deception maybe he is just a puppet by Oswaldo Z.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — Get the DVD @ http://infowars-shop.stor es... http://www.obamaimpeachme nt... The Obama Deception is a hard-hitting film that completely destroys the myth that Barack Obama is working for the best i... http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=eAaQNACwa... more
Blog: WELL OF THE LIVING WATER! by Donna M.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — WELL OF THE LIVING WATER more
Blog: Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Blue Netbook – 6 Cell Battery by Hans S.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — Special Offers & Product Promotions >>> Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Blue Netbook – 6 Cell Battery     C heap Samsung NC10 Great Netbook, I tried other netbooks and they all got so overheated they were uncomfor... more
Blog: Two tigresses released in Sundarbans by Dee D.
(0 comments  |  0 discussions ) — Two tigresses released in Sundarbans5 Jul 2009, 1028 hrs IST, PTICANNING (WB), Jul 4 (PTI) Two tigresses caged by wildlife personnel were released in the core area of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in West Bengal after fixing steel plates to their ears and... more
 
Content and comments expressed here are the opinions of Care2 users and not necessarily that of Care2.com or its affiliates.
Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved