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Open Poetry #50
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Downtown Crawl
| Open Poetry #50 |
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Downtown Crawl |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana 
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A bit long, but . . . cruel energy on the mean streets twisting and jabbing into your spine no place to hunker down all concrete splattered with rain making sure you know you are nothing standing under the eve of Lucky's Pawnshop hugging yourself trying to feel warmth tears mingle with the rain has it ever been worse than this jam hands in pockets loose change enough maybe for an entrance into the all-night diner across the street cup of hot java oh yes, coffee will hit the spot clutching the three quarters, two dimes and four pennies you streak across the street fling the door to the diner open step inside my oh my, warmth short order cook gives you the eye nobody else does they're in the same shape as you are down-and-outers sit at the counter shivering from the cold and warmth combined coffee you tell the man sitting at the cash register short order cook hears you sets a steaming cup in front of you wrap your hands around it warming them as you do you look around skinny girl at the end of the counter looks at you drops her gaze a frightened doe surrounded by a room full of hunters she looks so alone, so unapproachable still you take your cup and approach put the coffee cup in front of her she has nothing except a glass of water she raises her eyes they say thank you she takes a sip pushes it toward you you drank by the time that cup of coffee is empty your hands have found each other your hands tell each other nobody need be alone tonight you pay for the coffee and leave back into the drizzling, cold rain she has a place nearby there you hold her face in your hands acknowledging the kindness in her eyes you cling to each other fully clothed on the bed pull the cover over both of you and, still fully clothed lay there giving each other all you have to give warmth and whatever comes from it ©February 23, 2017 / Jerry Pat Bolton ~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~ |
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Bluesy Socrateaser Member Elite
since 2002-11-07
Posts 2417In The Mirror |
More truth than fiction in terms of the souls on the street who don't want to hear the mission's message. Those that did had a bunk and 3 squares. Still do after more than 100 years. The mission? Pacific Garden Mission in my hometown of Chicago. Nevertheless, I've seen many a nose on the curb. ...just bein' Bluesy |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Chi Town, eh . . . Been there. Done that. I've taken advantage of those three meals and a bunk in my day. Thanks Bluesy ~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~ |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Good one Jerry.You painted a vivid picture that told the story without getting explicit.  ~L |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Appreciate you stopping by, Lori. So very, very many stories out there . . . This just one of them. Thanks again. ~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~ |
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