Photo: unsplash.com
The homeless man had no claim on you
but you imagined it so
and resented him
for intruding your conscience
and awakening the possibility
that you might be his one
serendipitous moment,
accusing him of wanting money
you did not have, and
compassion you could not find,
without a word you judged him
while unaware
his very silence shamed you.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
Filed under Free Verse, life, poem
A blog about life
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Musings on life, love, and healing past trauma
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"Capture your ideas and define in it your own words."
Poemas del alma. Poemas de amor. Poemas de desamor. Sonetos. Sensuales. Supra-sexo. El cáncer en poemas. Poeta andaluza.
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Quirky thoughts on the ultimate question of life, the universe and popcorn.
A blog about life
Poetry, Series, Lyrics
Exploring the fascinating world of words
asd;dfr;lki/dfgb;
Musings on life, love, and healing past trauma
About fantastical places and other stuff
by artist Edward Cheung
A blog dedicated to the excellence in teaching
Ghosts, Tall Tales & Witty Haiku!
I am just a girl happened to be visually challenged!
Life in Full View: A Photographer's Journey
Every Day Lillie - Lifestyle, Early Retirement, Renovation, Travel, Fashion, Beauty, Health and the Occasional Rant about Important Issues like Climate Change
Search about me -Books
"Capture your ideas and define in it your own words."
Poemas del alma. Poemas de amor. Poemas de desamor. Sonetos. Sensuales. Supra-sexo. El cáncer en poemas. Poeta andaluza.
powerfully profound … even friendly greeting helps 😦
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Yes, a friendly greeting humanises so simply, thank you Kate. 🙂
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Here in Seattle this is epidemic. Overwhelming. I think we all want to help but just can’t. That’s part of the shame if it. The way the city is run has attracted people from all over to end up here. It was meant to be altruistic and it’s ruined the city. Tents and garbage everywhere is beginning to equal disdain and that’s too bad, really.
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I remember this problem when I visited Seattle years ago. Sad that it is now worse.
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It’s way worse. The police are afraid to enforce the law that they’ll get crucified on social media, and why enforce it when they just get out the same day and have nowhere to go? It’s a shame.
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Sorry to hear that, sounds awful.
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To make eye contact, to speak to him . . . everyone has that much to give.
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Yes, the botom line of humanity, thanks Janet.
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“without a word you judged him” Yes, so true just through lack of eye contact we do that. Yet, if we approached someone for directions and they put their head down and kept walking, our first reaction would be how rude. Even a simple, no I’m sorry I can’t help, at the very least shows our humanity. Timely, issue you write of, here on my holiday, homelessness is quite prevalent.
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Yes, I think it is growing around the world, and in the west in particular. I think eventually it will bite governments who have ignored the root cause.
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Agreed. For the last 10 or so years Medicine Hat in Alberta has had a very successful program in dealing with homelessness. I think many cities could learn from this. Here’s a link in case you are interested in reading about it. https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2018/06/09/hats-homeless-efforts-evolving/
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Thank you for the link Heather, very kind.
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Welcome!
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That is a positive and hopeful way forward. Better than the spikes and police cautions we have here, plus the removal of their meagre property.
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Yes. It is hard to understand the blame and punishment perspective and lack of initiative to look at the root causes of the problem.
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Absolutely, and this is no longer an aberration, it is a clear policy failure.
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Agreed.
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Thank you for sharing this positive initiative, you must be rightly proud! If only more countries, Ireland included, were as pro-active!
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Agreed, if only, but if one place can do it, then we all can – hope.
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It makes me hopeful when I learn of these initiatives, but it is only one small city in such a large country. I wish there were more places in Canada being pro-active.
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Yes I share that for here in Australia, but like you, I remain hopeful.
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It has to start somewhere, with people pressure and a will to do good it will spread to other cities! Well done Canada.
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Yes, well done Canada.
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This is so true!
A great point Paul.
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Sadly so, and thank you Rupali
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Reading your writing is pleasure Paul.
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Very kind, thank you so much Rupali.
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😢😢😢
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Yes indeed
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You get right to the heart of the matter, Paul.
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Thank you Sandy, much appreciated
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Excellently written♡
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Thank you, very kind 🙂
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Wonderful
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Thank you for that Luisa
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❤
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Ah, yes! You know how to paint a picture/ insert a message, Paul.
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Such a wonderful compliment VJ thank you so much.
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My pleasure, Paul.
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Such a powerful message, it strikes the heart of most of us I feel sure.
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Yes, it often brings a jolt for me, and the younger ones – tear.
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Yes, it seems we could do more, esp for the children.
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Absolutely
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Very powerful poem Paul, maybe it will create a ripple effect and bring about some small change for the better.
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I live hopefully about this, so yes, hoping for change, I have sen some small changes locally here – lockers for the homeless built by the city council.
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That’s a positive initiative and a good starting point…
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Yes, I really feel that too, thank you so much.
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Excellent.
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Thank you
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I am nominating you for The Mystery Blogger Award. You can check it out on my blog for today, April 22nd. No obligation! Just appreciation for you and your blog!
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Many thanks for that Vicklea, most kind indeed.
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Ah yes. I’m planning a piece on this issue too. It is ironic that it is not even on the agenda now, if you know what I mean.
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I do Tracey, we have lost our humanity in politics.
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Great piece, Paul!
We donate to the Illinois Food Bank. People need to do more and education has a lot to do with it.
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That is wonderful to hear, and I agree, we all need to do more, especially education.
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Marvelous poem, Paul…the homeless situation, which is NOT a situation–it is PEOPLE–is hard and complicated. In the US, my sympathy for them is often criticized, because it’s true that some of the homeless population choose the streets over the bureaucratic b.s. which would provide housing and other services. I don’t know the answers…if I see someone with a sign, and I feel I’m safe, I give them what I have.
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Yes there are people, well said. The politicians need to model a better attitude and positive policy for starters.
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That would help.
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🙂
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🙂
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thanks Charles 🙂
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“resented him
for intruding your conscience
and awakening the possibility
that you might be his one
serendipitous moment”
Yes, this is the process people go through in justifying their cold heartedness or even their turning a blind eye. Such a paradigm shift to imagine that we have the potential to be someone’s serendipitous moment… so powerful and well written.
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Thank you so much for sharing,.
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Thought provoking but sadly true I think
>
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Yes, very sad.
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