The Ignored Ones

A poem about the cost of absolution

She cries the cry of the forgotten,

With desolate heart, beating quietly in a corner.

Loneliness has robbed her of words.

None can communicate the depth of her aloneness,

So she waits.

 

Head nestled upon a blanket

Dingy with the bruised film

Of an eternity compressed

Into a matter of weeks on this,

Her piece of pavement.

 

I ignore her, avoiding the merest possibility

That I may be like her,

That I may be her.

 

Furtive glance met by the other,

Eyes lock, souls mingle through the ether of forever.

A heart beats once,

And it is over.

 

I pull out my last dollar and hand it over

Silently praying, “Let me never become you.”

She waits, eyes drop.

Aloneness descends,

Blanketing my prayer into a thud as it hits gray pavement.

I buy my absolution.

The price, a dollar.

Author's Note

While I was waiting between rehearsals last week

Reviews

[Judy Ponceby]

Awesome write of desperate tragedy seen in others. Many times I say to myself, there but for the grace of God go I. Absolution for living a healthy life....seems so wrong and yet the feeling can be so profound. Deep and meaningful Audrey.

[FJ Davis]

"Furtive glance met by the other,
Eyes lock, souls mingle through the ether of forever."

Brilliant work, Audrey.

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

I buy my absolution.......the price..... a dollar. How did I ever miss this one? Audrey this one made me cry.

[sarah]

This holds such strong emotions and it is is just a really great write! I really enjoyed it :-)

[Chris]

Seems many are one paycheck or a bad-event away from the other-side of a coin. Few seem to understand that and even fewer admit it.

I wonder how her eyes saw you... my own version I titled "Teddy Bear..." if you care to see it just ask and I'll dig it up.

Take care
Chris

[Desert Dreamer]

Oh, so sad, and so powerfully written. Sometimes it seems that many of us are just a step away from poverty or becoming homeless. I wish I lived in a world where everyone belonged and were cared for.

[ice]

Bought absolution is better than none at all;
Two lives, very different..but are they really?
Both are waiting, both rehearsing
For that final curtain call.

Only in different costumes.

Excellent poetry as always, Audrey...

[Ladysue]

what an excellent piece of poetry. the flow the message and the images all shine in this piece. just absolutely priceless

[kdpgrahi]

This is an excellent piece I enjoyed most."Furtive glance met by the other,
Eyes lock, souls mingle through the ether of forever." some of the best lines I remember again and again.