POETRY - HOMELESS

In the fading light of day,

When dark hues of evening Stealthily wrap cold arms,

Of darkness around the Smiling visage of the city:

Desperate and Haunted I feel.



Homeless I am;

And like a lost wanderer In a wilderness,

I stand alone -

An anonymous presence,

Subdued and Sad.



I am a mere shadow,

Drifting aimlessly -

Lost.

Flitting about -

Afraid,

Of the gathering gloom

Whose warning whispers

Sing a litany of pain to me;

Thus....

You are alone,

You have no home,

You are starving.



I stand at a corner,

Beneath the blazing sign of

HOTEL HILTON;

Lost in thought,

Watching countless other shadows

Milling about like agitated ants:

Hoping to catch a familiar face.

But all I see are faceless people-

Homeward bound.



Burning with the desire to belong,

I feel as though

All burdens, cares and follies,

Of this world

Are heaped on my fragile shoulders

By a brutal and merciless god.



Tis then that sadly,

I look around me, contemplating;

My senses awakening to the vicious voices

Of the town going to sleep.



All the others have a purpose;

A destination -

Wherein there are loved ones,

And warm meals,

And hearty laughter,

And comforting arms.

But I have none.



In tearful dejection

I heave a heavy sigh of resignation

I slump next to a beggar and

We exchange furtive, glances,

Then the beggar lights up,

Smiles and says in sanguine tones

``WELCOME HOME''

I cannot hold back the tears which reminds me

THAT I MUST SUCCEED.