All is lost

alone in the world...

Flick me a dime,

pays god and buys me some time.

Throw me a glance,

It maybe your last chance.

Toes poke through the warped stinking leather,

my a*s hangs out my pants,taking a beating from this weather.

Chin bristled like a well worn brush,

hair matted like a dogs after a wet run..I.. STINK !

Eyes that have lost all soul and hope,

let me fall from last grace,i cant cope.

No doors will open,

No hands will beckon.

No lips shall kiss this f****n mess,

No one will miss....

Me.

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I just read a story yesterday where a man came to America about three months ago from the Ukraine, I believe it was. He moved to Florida. Unfortunately, he lost his job, so he went to New York to look for work. He was in some station, waiting for his cell phone to charge, when he fell asleep. While asleep, someone robbed him of what little he had, including a $1,000 that he had in cash and his passport, even his shoes. He had been sleeping on the streets of New York, hadn't bathed in weeks, and was completely bereft and couldn't even speak English. His beard was longer than it had ever been in his life, having not shaved in two months.

Fortunately, for him, a company was handing out clothes to the homeless and the owner's significant other spoke Russian. They ended up giving him clothing and food, got his hair cut, paid for a hotel room in order for him to shower and get cleaned up. They contacted the embassy and was able to get his passport, and they even purchased a one-way ticket for him to get back home, since all he wanted to do was to get home and see his children.

I don't think all is lost as long as one is alive and there is someone alive to care. One should never give up hope until they're no longer alive to think about it.

I do think your poem speaks to the nature of humans and how, all too often, we toss a coin and never give a second thought to someone that's down on his luck. There just seems to be so much sadness in this world that we have to become immune to it in order not to be completely decimated ourselves.

[Bob Sherunkle]

Thank you for your time to read and respond.I read through this and I got a little upset.Not in a non Alpha male way,or any social stigma form,but you understand what I'm getting at.We are very quickly turning into some kind of souless mess.The message which you kindly posted shows why we should take a second look..at someone.Not all humans are on the streets because they're crack addicts or all those horrible things that tear families apart.Some have just been royal fucked by life..and need a dime,a coffee,a kind word(with meaning,) couple of bucks for a bed and a shower.You got it.Thank you.x

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

You're welcome. I actually had a similar incident a couple of weeks ago. I went to a local Wal-Mart during my lunch hour to pick up a few groceries. When I parked the car and got out, there was a woman standing nearby, who said, "Excuse me. I'm stranded over here without a ride home. I keep asking for help and everyone looks at me like I'm some kind of bum or something and won't help me out. Do you have $3 so that I can take the bus home?" Now, keep in mind that I rarely, and I mean never, carry cash on my person. That morning, however, I had grabbed some ones and put them in my wallet.

I responded to her, "It so happens that I do." As I opened my wallet to hand her the ones, she said, "If you had $5 to spare that would be great, then I can get me something to eat." So, I gave her the $5 and told her to have a nice day.

I then proceeded to the store. At the front door, there were a couple of people from Gleaning for the World and they were collecting donations for the storm victims in the Philippines. So, I gave them $5 as well.

I couldn't help but to think of how fortunate we are in America. While we have bad weather in some areas, floods, etc., overall, we are pretty damned lucky. We have never suffered that kind of devastation in recent memory.

I know that there are those who are on the streets because of their own bad choices in life. I think far more, however, are mentally ill, disabled, or even veterans.

We are all broken in some way. I think the homeless, however, are more broken than most; and I don't just mean monetarily.

One can have all the riches in the world and be completely bankrupt in soul. It's a sad reflection of our society.

[Bob Sherunkle]

you may be poor in pocket and rich in soul,thick in wallet but empty in heart.Thanks for your comment,they mean so much.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Amen! You're welcome. :-)

[Bob Sherunkle]

have a beautiful evening and weekend..

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

And, for you, the same.

[Nebunova]

the world has been in chaos from the beginning of human history but it just comes about in different forms. commercialism, consumerism, and capitalism, or the triple C threat, is what tackles and intoxicates our streets today and its so easy to get caught up in the mix of this poison but once we become aware that our life is created through our own actions and thoughts, the world suddenly doesn't seem so bad.
"eyes that have lost all soul and hope"
but you haven't lost faith :)
keep that chin up solider.

[Bob Sherunkle]

Nebunova,many thanks for your kind words.

[EloisaWrites]

I can see the furrowed brow of the man and his slumping figure. It is truly the image of a man without his hopes; a man tired on his journey. This is very dramatically written (on the context that the theme is about losing) with all the honesty of the emotions. A great one again, Bob! :)

[Bob Sherunkle]

Well Hello! Many thanks for reading the gurgling and review

[Cassy Samuels]

Sometimes I feel this way...sad.
Your poem speaks out fine...human struggles, but there is always hope.
Cassy Samuels

[Bob Sherunkle]

Hey Cassy,many thanks.Kind words.Thanks for reading

[Cassy Samuels]

Ur Welcome...Sherunkle..that name

[Bob Sherunkle]

Not my real name...or photo for that matter!

[Cassy Samuels]

yea i know... lol..

[Cletus]

wonderful piece ... you brought out the images beautifully

[Bob Sherunkle]

Hello Cletus,thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks for the review.

[Trevor Barnett]

Hardly anyone cares about the less fortunate anymore. Americans spent 4 million dollars on black Friday, but can't spare change to a starving man. Another great poem Bob!!!

[Bob Sherunkle]

Hi Trevor,thanks for the review.I hear regards Black Friday.Consumerisim is what most of us are about sadly.Thanks again.

[Jay Steitler]

My first reaction was to think of the tale, Ironweed, as it was discusssed in an English class. "Down and out" is timeless in its profain, almost visceral nature. How wonderful it would be, if we could remove walls, and see each other as human beings. Treks through poverty, then might not be such a lonely stinking affair. A well written piece, illustrating the desperation of the situation.

[Bob Sherunkle]

Hi Jay,apologies for not responding sooner..technical issues! Many thanks for your comments,I agree,if we could behave like humans,sometimes I think most of us passed that one by!

[Rachelle]

This sad piece of humanity presented to us
Scorned, abhorred, rejected - a pile of rust.
Toss the decrepit soul a look of pity
Shy away from social responsibility.
A coin is easy to dispose
Uplift his dignity, I propose.
A daunting task as many can see
Yet not with impossibility.

Each soul is precious in His eyes
Our task to uplift and not despise.

[Bob Sherunkle]

Hi Sweetbind,that was fantastic!

[Rachelle]

Thanks for the inspiration....

[Bob Sherunkle]

No,thank you!Your words are weaved beautifully,

[lily]

This is actually quite sad.
But portrays such a meaningful truth. It made me take a double take on how... terrible society is now. But, while reading through the reviews, it shows that not all society is a mess.
Bob, I love that you can make your work so significant and "worthwhile".
As always, well done. :)

[Bob Sherunkle]

thank you Lily,much appreciated

[Matt Sayer]

The beggar on the street corner, the urchin huddled in an alcove to hide from the bitter chill. The world has forgotten them, left them to die a little more each day without a teardrop shed by ignorant passersby. Here today, gone tomorrow; our lives will fade from memory, our footprints washed away, our echoes forever silenced. Hauntingly poignant Bob. Impressive, as usual :)

[Bob Sherunkle]

Matt,mant thanks,I like the descripitive here,got a little tear in my eye man!

[Lourisa]

Another great poem portraying a sad truth, Bob. Yes, people don't give a s**t anymore. I wonder if "The Meat Machine" has anything to do with it? We are so neatly trained by that machine: sleep, work, eat, sleep, work eat, day in and day out. Maybe when we see the person in need we respond with something like "You don't fit into the world I've been conditioned to live in therefore I'm going to ignore you." Blindly we accepted (or was brain washed) the beliefs and values of the machine and now we sit with this fucked up reality. But luckily we are too blind to see...
I enjoy your work, Bob, it always makes me think (which is maybe not always a good thing though).

[Bob Sherunkle]

Hey Lourisa,we're(not us) all to wrapped up in the unneccesary these days.Pop idol,face book etc.Sites like this one are great because they attract intelligent souls,the other spread dullness,lack of thought,albiet they connect people from all over the world,which is beautiful,but the majority for all the wrong reasons.With great power comes great responsibility..Spiderman or something...?