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Alone tonight
| Open Poetry #10 |
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Alone tonight |
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Ron K. Fox Senior Member
since 2000-10-24
Posts 925 |
His fingers are numb from the cold. He rubs his twisted and gnarled hands together Trying desperately to bring warmth from their friction, But on a night such as this, when ice forms layers on his beard, Just from the moisture of breath, it is just an act of hope. Hope. Of which there is none left. The bite of winter burns in his feet, Covered by mere remnants of what were once shoes, His toes sting, An unrelenting assault of pain chills his very soul. Soul. Of which he has none left. A flimsy shelter of cardboard has become his haven on this night A night others watch from afar. Warm behind windows. Warm by a fire. Warm within their home. Home. Of which he has none. They will be safe tonight, Tucked beneath warm blankets, protected from the buffeting winds To be content to dream Dream. Of which he has one. To be home, where there is hope, where his soul will be warm. But tonight he cannot dream. On a night like this, to sleep Is to never awake to dream again. < !signature--> Tossing words like wishful coins into the deep well of an open heart. R. fox [This message has been edited by Ron K. Fox (edited 11-04-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Ronald Kenneth Fox - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
Ron - Very touching writing you have done. Very true, as I wonder about all who are living this, of your words. Bill |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Ron this is excellent powerful and a chilling painful reality reminder for us all... you write of a cause near to my heart... before an injury forced me to stop.. I worked at a homeless shelter.. it is a never ending cycle of pain, and hardship. they have so little ... but their pride is all they ask to keep ... thank you for this reminder. take care jm |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
RonFox~ One footfall away ... it could be any of us ... and we need to remember that. 'To be content to dream Dream. Of which he has one. To be home, where there is hope, where his soul will be warm.' A poignant reminder to us all that home is the place ALL of us dream to be. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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juliet_2u Senior Member
since 2000-07-23
Posts 1125North Carolina |
Oh wow Ron I got cold just reading this. What a powerful piece this is. You took me right there. Excellent my friend. Juls |
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BSC
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-02-04
Posts 2919New York, USA |
Just beautiful Ron, a well written reminder for each of us to be thankful for all we have. This is a heartbreaking subject, and one that is lived out far too often in this "land of plenty" ... Powerful stuff Ron. Bonnie |
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Rainydays Member
since 2000-10-21
Posts 324 |
It would be difficult for someone who has never known the absence of hope, of home, of soul, to portray this sobering scene with as much clarity as you have in this poem. I admire what you do with words, Ron, whether through personal recollection or simply incredible insight and compassion. Rainydays |
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Victoria
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869 |
i often wonder how they survive. So sad..what a terrible life the homeless lead...i really feel for them..nicely written Ron.. ~Victoria~ A poem is never finished, only abandoned. - Paul Valery (1871-1945) |
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Sunnyone Member Ascendant
since 2000-07-06
Posts 5334Staffordshire, England |
Ron..... This poem is full of images....very powerful images that cause one to think, and that is the idea....is it not? I have been homeless, and this is just what it feels like. Desperation, despair, and utter hopelessness. Very moving write, Ron. Follow your dream! |
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A Whisper's Caress Senior Member
since 2000-11-03
Posts 791on the horizon of a fairytale |
This is an extremely powerful piece of writing. I stand in applause of the chill you sent down my spine. |
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Ron K. Fox Senior Member
since 2000-10-24
Posts 925 |
I haven't been there personally...but I've looked into the eyes of those that have, and maybe that's how I've been there. You can read a story, a life, just by the eyes. The deeper you look, the more that is revealed. I just want evryone to realize that what we may have as problems, may not even compare to those who are less fortunate. since I lost my job of 11 years,(it was out-sourced for lower wages and company greed$$$) I've fought to make ends meet (Thank God, I have a severance packege to keep me afloat). And as someone said, you can see how close it is to being there. Unfortunately, you could be the most wonderful person in the world, but your heart can't pay the bills. And nobody knows you when your down and out. Yes, it is just one footfall away. And we should keep that in mind. And be thankful for what we have, and feel for those less fortunate. It is a cruel world out there, once you shed those rose colored glasses. So take off the glasses and look into some of those helpless eyes...you'll never see things the same. Tossing words like wishful coins into the deep well of an open heart. R. fox |
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Alle'cram Senior Member
since 2000-02-28
Posts 1816Texas |
Ron, You have the most beautiful heart I have ever known. You are genuine, you are real and you share yourself so unselfishly. You are of a special breed, a rarity not found in commonplace and unseen by most. This poem is genuine and it is beautiful and I am blessed to be counted among your friends. A beautiful write indeed. Love, Marcy |
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Marsha
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423Maidstone Kent England |
Ron K, this is an excellant portrayal of the homeless ones, to whom a hand held out in friendship can and often does mean the difference between them eating or not. No matter how awful we think our personal crisis are they most likely pale to insignificance beside the horror of the homeless. Very well penned, and a timely reminder, that there but for the grace of God go I. Take care Mushy Marsha Take back the hope you gave,- I claim Only a memory of the same Robert Browning |
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tracie66 Member Elite
since 2000-01-18
Posts 4713Australia |
Ron~ Thanks for sharing this with us, I think we all need to be reminded that our problems are sometimes only little one's compared to other poeple's and this is happening to so many all over the world, people finding themselves on the streets with no place to go...once again thanks for opening our eyes to this Tracie~ Love is the life of the soul... It is the harmony of the universe |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Magnificent writing, Ron....and those last two lines really hit home.... |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
Oh Ron, this is such a hard thing to think about. Life should never be like that. You have done a very impressive work here, it should be mandatory reading for all people who are in the "so called" helping professions. Sandra |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
This is an exceptional piece of writing. I enjoyed reading it though the subject is sad. We tend to forget and you reminded us Very well done Liz |
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snowpants Member Elite
since 2000-09-16
Posts 2061KS |
Wow, Ron! Fantastic write! It should make us all be grateful for what we have instead of thinking of what we want next. Thanks for the reminder. sp  Do not go where the path may lead, but instead, go where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Butterflies_dont_cry Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733Michigan |
Ron* Excellent work...hopefully this makes us all look a little closer at the people that could so easily be you or I~ |
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