The Homeless

The Homeless

Have pity on me; can't you see that I'm homeless?
I grow hungry and scared and I haven't a prayer
to go to a home and possibly shake this aloneness.
I haven't a phone to call anyone that I know. 
Everyone abandoned me a very long time ago.
Haven't you the eyes to see me?
I go hungry all day, 
and I also wander from place to place.
I dare not go anywhere
that I'm not wanted or welcomed;
or I'll be quickly ousted
because they say I can't be trusted.
I have no hygiene to show,
since I never do any laundry at all.
I'm dirty you see, please excuse me. 
I'm embarrassed enough;
you know it's been tough.
Please have some pity on me,
pretty please if you see me.
Please call Uncle Sam,
so I can get some direction
that is not a total scam,
if you don't mind, mam.
I'm reaching out to you.
I said his name once or twice again;it's Uncle Sam.
Some people do know me, but they quickly ignore me;
you see, I'm called an outcast for sure,
I haven't any shoes because I always lose.
It's a terrible time I'm
I'm going through;
wont someone help me?
I feel like I'm drowning every day in this life
of wallo and this wall of sorrow.
Anything that is valuable you see,
is important to me; I hold it all so very dear.
Yes, I talk to myself, 
but does anyone really care?
im invisible you see, and yes, I have mental problems;
everyone that walks by me does know this.
My shopping cart is full of my crap,
That you can quickly surmise,
That which I gather all over the place;
they are only scraps you see,
but I need them to go on;
otherwise, I will drown.
I am searching always in haste.
I'm still hiding my face, 
so absolutely no one can see me
In the free moonlit haze.
I'm a little sickly; try not get close to me,
unless you want some of my disease.
I'm dirty as can be; 
I read my old newspapers 
to see if anyone remembers me
from another time when I was someone.
I use them to keep me warm at night 
in my jacket so tight.
I'm so sorry; I just can't help it.
I have the need to say,
my feet are itchy as hell,
but there is no one that I can tell
it a fungus im sure 
some medicine I need to score.
some just buy it at the store.
No one even cares if im sleeping in a ditch.
People, I'm told,
live in the lap of luxury; this will never be me.
You see, I'm just not clean and that's the gist of it all.
I need some help if you please;
you have to forgive me;
I'm begging so much.
I fear,and I fear,
sometimes i stand in corners for so long 
I'm about to take a fall,what else can I do?
I need to eat like everyone else
in this place we call earth.
My children forgot about me so very long ago.
It hurts me more every day
since I'm having a hard time remembering.
I was in the army once, you see.
A decorated veteran I'm from wars overseas
I did not come out complete.
I can't explain it.
It's too complicated and long,
and it sounds like a sad song.
I don't want your pity.
I'm still proud and a bit witty and also silly.
I doubt you have the time for me to explain it all.
I guess it's the price you pay for the life that I have led.
I got into a lot of trouble along the way.
I wasn't planning to end up this way.
I guess it's called fate;
I haven't anything more to say. 
except i hope things get better for me someday.
That's just the way the ball rolls;
I will get older; 
but I haven't much hope anymore.
I know It's not going to be in this place
I call my home.
I heard there are shelters that I can go to
but in this tunnel I stay
until the rats come out to play
to eat every morsel in sight.
There is no one that cares for me.
This is as true as can be;
I'm never really scared.
I know something good will arrive
If only to strive for me to stay alive
in this hell on earth;
are you opening your purse?
My hair by the way, is all matted and gray,
and has lice I dare say,
What can I do?
I'm just a old dirty fool.
My beard is as long as the day.
I just can't help it in any way.
The only thing that bothers me now is that I forgot my name.
It's perfectly ok;
I'm one of the nameless.
All I have to say is- isn't that a shame?
We are all to blame
in this situation of the homeless.

By Marc Acrich