Downtown, Toronto

by Melissa   Apr 27, 2009


I often wonder why
that homeless woman
flung my niceties
at those unwary bystanders,
as though they were not
a gesture of charity,
but an unabashedly cheap shot
at another's adversity

To be quite frank;
I found her tactics cumbersome,
with the way she invaded my day
of cumulus clouds
and shopping,
with an overcast view (how rude)

And when her tongue
pierced my ears
with LOUD obscenities,
causing an awkward d
..................................r
..................................o
..................................p of the jaw-
a sense of guilt splashed over me,
like holy water

as if I had done something smutty

    report violation
2


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Latest Comments

  • 15 years ago

    by Mike

    I live in toronto its not a very good place the homeless there are not very nice sounds like you enocuntered a nicer one good poem.

  • 15 years ago

    by Curing the Comon Cliche

    I love toronto. You know what I saw there last week that I haven't seen since I was 7. A squeegy kid. The homeless kids that run up to ur car and was it at a red light. I liked the poem. Very detailed.

  • 15 years ago

    by Beautiful Chaos

    I really like this write Melissa, it was enjoyable from the start and I appreciate the subject as well. I think you have done a great job of taking this personal experience and turning it into a creative write.

    "a sense of guilt splashed over me,
    like holy water"

    I thought this was a great comparison, other than that I can't pick my favorite part because the whole thing was wonderful.]

    Great job!

  • 15 years ago

    by Daisy if you do

    Indeed what a witty line.

    "a sense of guilt splashed over me,
    like holy water"

    You have a way of captivating the reader and lately you been doing that and adding a certain magic within your lines. Way to go! I am thoroughly enjoying the reads.

  • 15 years ago

    by Corinne

    Melissa! Your writing just keeps getting better and better - I didn't think it was possible! This is WONDERFUL. I love "guilt splashed over me like holy water"

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