Pennies and Dimes

by Maher   Jun 4, 2016


The roads are lit with street lamp haze
as traffic lights play coloured games;
keeping time over a metal ebb and flow.
Paths shuffled upon by wandering feet
fall out of sync with congested streets;
no guiding colours - none that they know.

On a path's inner edge lies one, torn;
cardboard mattress and clothes well worn.
On they shuffle as he shivers away.
The moon shines not off his matte skin,
yet light trickles through to a space within
and there he cries - blessed be old age.

And on they shuffle, no soul to their lives,
nor the beating of hearts whilst prying for lies.
Who would buy his past for pennies and dimes?

4


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Latest Comments

  • 7 years ago

    by Ben Pickard

    Maher,

    It is sad when we pass those in need and seem to be oblivious to their misfortunes. It happens too often in life, be they the homeless on the streets or the starving children who have to walk miles a day just to find dirty water that can kill them. As Brenda says: a sad state of affairs.

    Take care

    • 7 years ago

      by Maher

      It is very sad indeed, especially when you take the time to talk to them for a few minutes and learn about some of their histories. One man here was an engineer who worked on building the Sydney harbour bridge. When the job was done, apparently so was he.

      Thank you for taking the time to comment, good sir :)

  • 7 years ago

    by deeplydesturbed

    I really like this Maher,
    I just - I'm blown away by it. It's beautiful.

    • 7 years ago

      by Maher

      Thanks dudette, glad you like it :)

  • 7 years ago

    by Brenda

    Wow-this is so wonderfully written! It's so telling of the sad state of affairs in this world today. Well done-

    • 7 years ago

      by Maher

      Thank you ma'am :)

  • 7 years ago

    by Em

    Maher, I keep having to come back to this because I don't know what to comment without being so blunt or whatever. As you know I usually like ripping poetry to pieces (lol) but I can't with this piece it's just so beautifully written and enthralling that all I can say is I'm gutted you can't vote at the weekend and that I'm out of votes until Tuesday so going to add it to my faves so I can nominate it as soon as I can.
    The meaning of this piece is very very powerful.
    All the best, Em

    • 7 years ago

      by Maher

      Hahaha you do have a knack for ripping poetry to pieces, but that's a good thing. I'm not fussed about nominations so all good, as long as you enjoyed it. Thanks again Em :)

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