Dedicated to all those who are homeless

…who have no voice to speak for them

…who have no one to comfort them

…who have no one to hold them

…who have no one to let them know they are human beings

…who have no one

*

“But if you know him only as the shadow, the tale is dimly lit”  —  Saepuddin

she is sitting there by the curb

shopping cart nearby

filled with all that remains

of her  yesteryear’s joy

~

many life’s moments have passed

once she was a mother of four

holding the children close

all their giggles she did adore

~

then life came along

and one by one all her joys were gone

one died at such a young age

two became wrapped in their careers’ dawn

~

the fourth was lost; she knew not where

her husband long disappeared

she had worked more than her share

still…neighbors persistently sneered

~

many offered their advice along the way

the church goers, the social workers held out a crutch

admonishments and simple solutions

doing their weekly tithes and such

~

what happens when moment after moment

disillusionment sets in, no smile to return your grin

no one to respond to your hello

even crazy people like to be invited in

~

moments passed, moments done, day in, day out,

left alone, wrapped in her tears

till all at once they were no more

sensibility left, as did all her fears

~

she walks in the sunshine

having forgotten the rules

breathed in the air

nature dressed in her jewels