navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #31 » Lost Woman of The Street
Open Poetry #31
Post A Reply Post New Topic Lost Woman of The Street Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
Bonnie j
Senior Member
since 2003-06-27
Posts 1588
Ohio

0 posted 2004-02-12 11:19 AM



While driving along the highway today.I saw an old woman picking up cans and bottles.I
thought of the woman who was always on the street. She died a few years ago she was
referred to as
The Bag Lady and another is called The Purple Lady.
It is sad that we are unable to help these lost people of the street.
So I write for these people who have lost all memories of what used to be.
Bonnie J.

Lost Woman of The Street

How did we lose this woman of the street?
Once a daughter, wife and a loving mother.
The daughter of a rich millionaire-
His pride and joy in his hectic, overbearing life.
A beauty in school, a high school queen.
Top of her class in college-
An educator of children with special needs.
The wife of a powerful man-
Three beautiful children, the light of her busy life.
Children grown, a husband busy always away-
Flying here and flying there.
Slowly in her busy life she realizes she cannot
stand being closed in.
Her home not large enough,
not sufficient breathing room.
Her classroom to small she cannot breathe.
Her mind cries out “What is happening to me?”
She hears from family and friends you need to rest.
Her doctor says “Take this pill it will help your anxiety.”
The years pass an old woman on the street.
Ragged clothes,bruises upon her swollen face.
Sores upon her legs and swollen feet.
A cart beside her, all her worldly possessions.
They say she is a rich woman with family.
They say she was once a beauty queen
a fine educator of children.
With all our modern technology-
Why can we not help these lost people,
this lost woman of the street?

Love Bon-Bon

© Copyright 2004 Bonnie j - All Rights Reserved
Grover
Senior Member
since 2004-01-27
Posts 1967
London, ON, Canada
1 posted 2004-02-12 02:03 PM


Often, mental illness is the culprit. Thanks for your dare to care. Touching poem, indeed! Grover.
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 2004-02-12 02:05 PM



Strange, isn't it, that some people just up and leave what to others seems a "sane home"...it can be that they are tired of the insanity that truly rages, whether it be inside, or out.

Others, they don't always have a choice.  A catastrophe of some medical need, or a fire, or flood, can take people from average, to sub-average in the blink of an eye.

We never know all the reasons.  But I would rather see our foreign dollars taking care of our own government for once, and not being doled out to all of the other countries.  Let the people say "No, I choose to live this way..."; THEN, we can step back and say, OK, we tried with that person...and they can go on to the next.

We make everything else happen.  Why can't we make this work?  Very good, Bonbon...you got me on a soapbox!  LOL...stepping down now.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
3 posted 2004-02-12 02:07 PM


Excellent write Bonnie..
Not much more I can add to this.
Hugs~

  ~ Whatever our souls are made of,
      his and mine are the same. ~      
            

kayjay
Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015
Oregon
4 posted 2004-02-12 08:52 PM


There really is no answer,
If I may take a chance here,
to how is it that lives
Appear to us as dives.

A person must be needy
To live so very seedy.
And leave the human race.
So there but for the grace...

I spend many years volunteering in a homeless shelter.  Some of the nicest people have the most compelling stories.  
Thanks for this write.  Ken

Through rubble and trouble and dark of night
The yawn of a dawn will hasten the light

Bonnie j
Senior Member
since 2003-06-27
Posts 1588
Ohio
5 posted 2004-02-12 09:42 PM


Kayjay
Thanks for your reply. I have seen a few documentaries on the History channel about the lives of the homeless.I imagine just as in many walks of life all have an interesting story of their life and the paths they have followed.People are a wonderous lot, are they not?
When I refered to the Bag Lady that was based on a real lady who died a few years ago.
Thanks again to everyone for your comments.
Love Bon-Bon

LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
6 posted 2004-02-13 08:04 AM


This is a very sad, compelling story.  You've expressed it very well.  When I see homeless people, I feel that something is not right, something is off.  You've captured those feelings so well here.

As for Ken - Not all our heroes work in the fire department, the armed forces, or on the police force.  If anybody wants to say, I don't know any heroes, I say, maybe you ought to get to know Ken.  Sorry, Ken - I didn't mean to put you on the spot.

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
7 posted 2004-02-13 08:55 AM


Bon-Bon
We only play God to ourselves.

ice
Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404
Pennsylvania
8 posted 2004-02-13 09:42 AM


Amazing to me, how a woman can softly touch such a harsh subject. Rage of thought in the man me, would not have allowed such an approach to the subject...I would have waxed far more political then the question in the last line...but thank you for bringing my thoughts down to earth on this theme...It has (for a few moments) subdued my inner rage
by its feminine charm.
________ice
  ><>

Ratleader
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026
Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass
9 posted 2004-02-13 10:19 AM


In college, up there in Westwood... my son used to talk to them, and I thought it was scandalous, that he was letting himself in for a bunch of trouble.

...then one of them told him he'd saved her life kept her from suicide just by being nice to her when nobody else would.

Even dads can learn.

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

garysgirl
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237
Florida, USA
10 posted 2004-02-13 10:29 AM


Bon-Bon, thank you for this write. I also
feel so sorry for the homeless. As has been
said, there are so many different reasons for it....
and in a country where there are so many resources,
it hard to understand why we have so many homeless.
It really irritates me to no end to see this happening.
A lot of it started when the mentally ill were
just put out to roam, without any help when they
are incapable of helping themselves. Very, very sad.
I wish that I could help them all.
Hugs to you, sweet lady,
Ethel

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
11 posted 2004-02-13 12:47 PM


a subject that touches us all in one way or another...

it's sad, very sad

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #31 » Lost Woman of The Street

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary