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does a name make him more real?
by Ava Bluhe asked 3 times for a dollar
as the man pushed his hat further down
[cant hear what you dont see]
Id noticed this bum for months now
always standing on the same corner
asked me every day for a dollar
[each time I give]
my friends tell me to ignore him
which only makes me talk more
his name is ______
does it matter?
the signs could all read the same,
but who actually pays attention?
[all you wanna know is]
hes an alcoholic that couldnt see beauty
so he drank until the right colors formed
behind his broken shadow
you want to know what he gave up
the tragedies and the guilt
because America loves her dirt
I know that the money goes straight to the liquor store
but who am I to deny someone
he graduated from Yale
attorney turned addict
[I tell him how much we have in common]
yes, he had the dream
and threw it away
[everyone deals with their own trash in some way]
I buy him food and coffee
while he gives me faith
because all of us are only a second away
[from being him]
he still asks me for a dollar
pretending like we didnt share
[gotta keep pride on the street]
I listen to every story
as he instructs me on all the wrong directions
and I am always the only one
with tears.
07/09/2005 Posted on 07/09/2005
Copyright © 2025 Ava Blu
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Shonda Chrissonberry on 07/09/05 at 11:48 PM I really like this Jeanna. It reminds me of a piece I did ~ brought back a few memories. A little different from yours ~ but the same in some ways. Thank you for sharing this. :) |
| Posted by Maria Terezia Ferencz on 07/10/05 at 01:32 AM ahh one of the few that can see how close we all are to being this way, but for the grace of God...
don't ever stop the tears hold on to your humanity. |
| Posted by Ashok Sharda on 07/10/05 at 04:46 AM This identification is so human.Yes, we are all potential with all the possibilities despite the boundaries. |
| Posted by Anita Mac on 07/10/05 at 05:50 AM Love this. You're a good woman... and a good poet. It flows well, is well put, and makes a point... And I agree, which I always like. ;o) |
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