Goodnight; Inside the Walls of a Homeless Shelter

by Maple Tree   Mar 6, 2018


The devil dances close to midnight,
floating upon walls where the lonely gather
for bologna sandwiches
and endless nights of bitter chatter
as the wind whistles cross hoodies and cold fingers.

I hear echos of empty bellies,
broken hearts and shallow pockets.

There are nights where
I want to walk away from this place;
to much depression can lead to my mind
swirling within darkness and I forget that
I make a difference, or so they say.

This homeless shelter
has walls that whisper
and eyes everywhere..

These eyes have feelings,
hopes, dreams and
they think I'm strong.

Little do they know,
I'm so close to the edge
that my toes feel the air
from the bottomless pit below,
but I hug them when they run out of tears,
I have plenty to spare.

Sadness.

I'm not a counselor for the money
and I don't lay blankets upon cold bodies
for recognition, I do it because deeply, deeply,

I love human souls and when I make them smile
It's all the comfort I need....

    report violation
4


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Latest Comments

  • 6 years ago

    by Brenda

    Andrea, each day you make a difference and it takes a very special person to give so selflessly. This is just beautiful-hugs my friend-

  • 6 years ago

    by Ya----Na

    Andrea You are a pure soul that's why you see good in others. There is no better thing than bringing a smile on someone's face.

  • 6 years ago

    by Em (marmite)

    I have no words

  • 6 years ago

    by Jamie

    The title is great because it tells the reader what this poem is truly about and from it i feel like you are going to explain your perspective of what you see inside of a homeless shelter.

    Stanza one- i enoyed how you started out this poem, especially the first line, because when you think about it midnight is at nighttime and nighttime is where "bad" things happen. So the use of devil is great here in that sense. I also love the imagery tok because it's real, no fancy metaphors at all.

    Stanza 2/3- there is such ssdness in the couplet, because i think i know what all those things are like. Not being able to eat because you have no money at all is very discouraging. I think when you see depression everyday, it can be too much to take sometimes, especially you are feel the sameway. And you hear words of encouragement but they don't stick at all.

    Stanza 4- This stanza is really well written and it tells me that there are many people that have passed through the walls there and there are so many more there now. It's like the past and present kind of thing.

    Stanza 5/6- You can see it in their eyes that they have hope and you have probably heard their dreams as well. And you try to stay strong for them. But they don't really know that you are full of sadness as well and you are close to falling but you have to be strong for them because you need each other it sounds like to me.

    Ending- I do like the ending here because you were building up to it well and i think the reader had a feeling you worked there, but this conferms it. You love your job because despite everything you have been through you are so full of love.

    This poem was truly an amazing experience to read, and you wrote it beautifully.

    You are an amazing person Andrea, hugs to you.

  • 6 years ago

    by Michael

    Miss Andrea,

    This piece resonates very much with me, as I once worked in a 'Homeless hostel' for 16-25yrs. Very challenging, and rewarding. But there were some very sad stories. A wonderful piece reflecting on your experience.
    Much love
    Michael :)x

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