Thud

photo by Alberto Ciprian

              THUD

Maybe that's the sound?

muddied crossings on forests' floors

the sound of cotton dampened, 

heavy hammer

                              

thud

when the roots and roofs of things

are shaken and

people are fading in desperate

black alley corners

alleys of disquiet 

urine musk and ...... wet cardboard

we draw away

thud

i can almost see

but who am I to sing the sounds of things

I have never been there

never witnessed

never heard the 

trees falling alone .. in the forest.

never dared the alley.

never slept there.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Wet cardboard and urine musk....the homeless live in those alleyways and there are many who do look the other way as if seeing this side of humanity will somehow diminish them. Thud....strange word really. Is it the thud of realization that not everyone in life is able to make ends meet? The world would be a better place if more people did see those alleyways....and do something to help. Lydi**

[Einstein Noodle]

hi Lydi!! dear friend! so happy to read your review .. it is spot on as is your way ;))
E.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

It’s tragedy of life that there are so many numbers in streets and growing each day
Wonderful write ✍️

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for reading and commenting Jules!! always appreciate you :)
E.

[Chris]

may I suggest, "Human..."
Life isn't fair, and nothing is ever "free". But we - people - can feel beyond ourselves and the empathy makes a difference.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes!! Human ... i watched a movie about Native Cultures in which they called themselves "human beings" .. by which, they meant .. kind, empathetic ... well ... human beings .. so tragic the concept is lost in this material world ... translating empathy into action then .. i think .. is the key .. love and respect Mr. Chris .. truly .. love and respect
E.

[Chris]

YOU have a memorable Day E...
Chris

[Pete]

such powerful poetry along with video. the ultimate humbling. draw away indeed - a side of life that many of us prefer not to see or know about. life happens whether we like it or not. we are all one step away from humility. the "thud" - perhaps when the other shoe drops ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

i am humbled and feel gratified by your sensitive review Pete ... thank you so much for taking time .. glad this touched you in such a way ..
E.

[DIVYA]

This poem spoke to me of despair, the ugly side of life, the sounds and smells of a less than desirable world. There are so many realities out there, so many lives being lived in such vastly different circumstances, such incomparable chasms of wealth, well being and happiness. Some have it all, some a little less than them and some have nothing but the sound of 'Thud". I'm so happy the poet never witnessed it. It doesn't read pretty. Wonderful poetry, dear E.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Divya .. i can feel your empathy .. hugs and best of the day to ya!
E.

[DIVYA]

You're always welcome, my friend.

[Robert Trakofler]

I spent a brief time homeless when I was younger full of angst and drinking myself to oblivion. I used to refer to it as being "out of doors" There were entire communities of people that slept on the river banks on the River Trail mostly filled with young runaways and junkies, self-medicating mentally Ill folks that society deemed unimportant it is easy to disconnect from a world that disconnected from you long before and it is easy to find refuge in resignation in a nation that has no nurture for you! Thud is a good sound for this

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Bunny Man .. for your heart felt read and review .. it is far more clear for those who have been there and still are ... i called it my "hippie days" :))))))))))))))))) all kinds of people on all kinds of sidewalks and riverbanks eh!? luv on ya brother
E>

[emmajoygreen]

What a sincerely dra

matic poem, sir. It hits home, wallops one's nses, should nudge and shove each and every one of us to think what pitch dark means to the lost people of our world.
Your poem is wri tte n op

Try collecting donations for those lost people and learn how society reacts here to there and back.

yYopurT

[Einstein Noodle]

there are many charitable orgs. around for sure .. it's finding those that give at least 90% of the money to the cause and keep the organizers honest that can be tricky .. there are three I have found that do the job "The Society of St. Andrew" https://endhunger.org/ ... gleans food from harvested fields and distributes to poor ... "St. Judes Children's Hospital" .. you probably know about them .. and the "Knights of Columbus" ... donating is safer but hands on and walking into those alleys is ... well ... compassionate but quite dangerous .. thanks always for your support here at the Café' Emmajoy! it's been a while now .. i feel as if we are neighbors looking over the hedge and chatting ;))))))))))
E.

[Dave Brown]

I often contrast those sorry 'THUDS' with the quasimillion salaries and contracts that seem to be handed out ever more often as the years pass
It is a broken system

[Einstein Noodle]

well ... certainly there are parts of the system that are broken .. many not needed .. and we ... one and all are the core .. what we do one moment .. one bit of help .. one added prayer .. does make a difference me thinks .. but hey .. i am more the eternal optimist and at this point in my life have dreams and goals not related to this world ... with the caveat .. that one foot in one foot out ;) .. thanks very much for taking time to read and share your thoughts, Dave .. much appreciated
E.

[Ken e Bujold]

powerful poem EN. as so rightly notes, judge not what ye have no way of knowing

[Einstein Noodle]

oh man!!! so spot on Ken ... so much we have no idea of but strive to form opinions on ... peace on you and all you do
E.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

“urine musk and ...... wet cardboard”
How evocative and powerful this line is E. How telling and poignant about the poverty and homelessness in the world. “Thud”- yes, do we hear the trees that are falling in our shared forest? Or do we put that sound out of our minds for the fear of experiencing it? For the fear of it. They are one of the groups of ‘expendables’ in society. Left to God’s mercy, not ours. Would we contribute to an ongoing global tax to provide food, shelter, services? I hear this in your words and thank for the stark eloquence of your write my friend.

[Einstein Noodle]

oooooo not sure about "global" anything Ms. Annette! my own little County in the USA can hardly handle the complexities of our "free" society .. love your comments .. thanks so much for reviewing .. we are getting to be old time friends eh!? ;) Slainte is tainte (health and wealth) ... luv on ya girl!
E.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Slainte is tainte my friend!:)))

[Soren]

"I know what you me" " I feel you pain" "Yes I know" how many times I have heard these, said these and yet no one knows what another feels, thinks, has been through. "the sound of cotton dampened" how aptly you have said it all in this one line. Very deep if one chooses to think about it. Has anyone been sensitive enough to hear cotton dampened? "black alley corners
alleys of disquiet
urine musk and ...... wet cardboard"
The misery of others we can not comprehend, even if we have been there or lived there. Each person walks their own path. Yes "we draw away" either because we don't want to see or we simply can't. Yes we think that we can almost see but as your last stanza says, we have never been there. Brilliant!

[Einstein Noodle]

your words touch me big time, Soren ... thanks so much for taking time and reading with sensitivity and insights ... super appreciate you man!!
E.