The Diatribes of a Homeless Man

[BlackBodyGuard]

Diatribes of a Homeless Man
TheBlackPoet May 26, 2006 – 1:56a

A Homeless Man’s Prelude:
I stood on that corner collecting what I could; that I might eat;
that I might buy some much needed shoes for my feet; and maybe,
if I was lucky, have enough left over to rent a place to sleep.
Its hell living on the streets..

I used to be ashamed to hold out my hand; to ask another man;
to reach into his pocket, and give me what he can…
But hunger has a way of helping you get over your pride;
now, I have both hands out, and I hold them high to the sky!

Living in Obscurity:
Thanksgiving and Christmas are the worse days; People needing to cleanse themselves of all the years’ sin, deliver to my cardboard box, pastries and fresh fruit, meats and breads and sometimes they give me money and toiletries….
This is what I had been holding out my hands for! And now, they bring it to me with hypocritical well wishes as If I am going to somehow, miraculously not have to live in an alley anymore

As if we are eating and drinking and being merry because tomorrow, I will be going on a long arduous journey!

I want to refuse, I mean, I’m homeless, but I aint no fool

I take what I can, because tomorrow, I won’t exist to them
I’ll go back to being invisible and untouchable again…

Economics Happned:
I used to be a man of the people. I was loved by the people
I had dignity and a strong sense of self worth
What happened?...
Reaganomics,… happened…
followed by… Bushanomics,…
followed by…. Clintonomics …
followed by… Bushanomics… the remix
I ought to be thankful I’m still here
That’s got to say something about my character,
Don’t it?

Living in Squalor:
I piss and shit in anger;
My ass exposed to the gritty street
While I look up into the high-rise corporate offices
Watching them, look down on me
Through reflective three inch thick plate glass windows
Able to muffle sound and stifle stench in the alley below
A few inches away, my cardboard box is my bed and kitchen; living room and study and…..

It’s hell living on the streets…
It’s hell living…
It’s hell…


TheBlackPoet aka BlackBodyGuard -

[SheRose]

Thanks for another look at the nitty-gritty truth of life at times and how we need to SEE where we ourselves be standing too.

Sherose

[Moorish Rebel]

My brother, this poem is thought provoking considering how we as a society especially our own people would turn their noses up at the homeless brother and sister on the street but yet these be the same people who profess to be God fearing. We don't take the time to consider that these people are human beings as well as our fellow African brothers and sisters. I often hear blanket remarks such as "why don't these people get a job" but none of us know their situation or how they came to be in the condition that they are and you think that someone would easily hire a homeless person off the street? There has been cases where people were able or fortunate to make a better life for themselves but that isn't the case most of the time and interestingly, many of these homeless brothers served in Vietnam or Desert Storm and this is how "their country" repay them? It is not an accident that we as a people have the highest homeless/unemployment rate in this country due to the lack of opportunity as well as the systematic genocide on African peoples such as Reaganomics in the 80's as well as much of the economic policies pass today by those in power. If any of us actually take the time to converse with a homeless brother/sister, you will find that many of them have a story to tell. A few weeks ago, I had an interesting conversation with this homeless brother who once was a Black Panther and the things he told me would make one want to start a revolution immediately.

My point is that we as a people (in general terms) shouldn't be so quick to judge our homeless brothers/sisters because many (the majority) of them are the product of Amerikkka's institutionalize racism and are simple victims to this injust system.

[BlackBodyGuard]

you are absolutely correct Brother. Too many times will we see a homeless person, "but dont see them" and minute later, we see a fine sister and will holla like wolves.. i'm not downing the brother.. or sister who "selects" who they want to see, but often times seeing this homeless reality is an opportunity to improve your own karma; "each one teach one" "help your people, help yourself"

this does not ring true for most of us until we are the ones who need the help.

it doesnt take much to help someone less fortunate...
the racism/white weakness (you call it supremacy) policy we live under will never change until we change it.

solidarity/support of our weakest link is always our greatest defense.

[5602]

The media is the main driving force behind us being brainwashed not to see this reality that they are creating for the whole planet. They've done an excellent job. They have taught us to look down upon "homeless persons" as less than human and deserving of their plight. They have taught us not to ask questions and we don't. What we have not yet realized is that they were familiarizing us with the breakdown of humanity that they have slowly put into place! We've accepted it basically!!!