Andrea, what a beautiful poem about the homeless! We tend to make people invisible thus lessening their importance in this world, your poem really showed how important it is to open our eyes and really let someone know they do matter and they deserve our love and respect regardless of their circumstances. Well done!

Hello Andrea,

another great poem.

This one has touched a shameful cord in me.

I never realized how cold I had become.

For years, walking paths of compassion
generated a comfort zone,
taking for granted the safety net I had built-
^
I love this introduction - setting the scene. A person living their life in a warm cosy bubble; oblivious to other people/ circumstances that fall outside the 'norm' the 'accepted'

until you hugged me.

You stood six foot seven ~
^
These two lines act (to me) like a sledge hammer of realisation. Suddently the bubble popped!! The fact he stood so tall, causes the reader to stretch their imagination of how such a giant off the street could show an act of kindness.

I couldn't see your eyes from all
the facial hair you hid from within,
I barely could see your smile,
^
I read this as his mask protected him, but despite it, his compassion in his eyes, in his smile burned through...

but it was there the day I walked
you through our doors.
^
The compassion showed through because it reflected the kindness being offered.

You were sick of the voices,
streets of John had worn
holes within your heart,
abandonment has been
your meal for as long
as you can remember.
^
A vivid description here of a man living in the worst conditions, being treated as invisible or spat and sworn upon. Living amongst the dying - a death row on a dead street.

I hugged you-
^
The barriers have come down - body to body, the ultimate show of acceptance, especially to a man who barely remembers affection of any kind.

The only aroma my nose
came in contact with was hunger-
^
Humanity is being human, not judging, just accepting and offering support and friendship. This line shows that any aroma was just a product of his circumstance. I like the way hunger is left hanging, like the reader is going to presume it is for food...

Hunger for love, to be accepted
as a human being,
I loved you at that very moment.
^
Hunger for acceptance. Yes, this is what we all crave for no matter where we are from. It matters not what we look like, we are human, with human needs. We are not meant to be solitary, we are meant to be 'family'

What you didn't realize Mister,
It was you who made me come alive
making me see the only filth upon
those streets is the people who ignored
the true beauty of you.
^
This moment, an acknowledgment of deeper understanding and appreciation for the clarity this man has given. The gift of clarity, seeing the world and all its beauty.

"Once labeled with a mental illness,
you are no longer human, just a vessel,
left to feed on emptiness,
Please understand, I'm a human being-
^
Like a foot note, this man's reason for being on the street. Cast from the norms of society for being different. Different yes, but we are all different and once we see this in the biggest of pictures, we will understand this: We are one World.

Just like you"
^
A perfect way to finish. We are all the same, break down the walls that divide and then there is no need for segregation.

Andrea, a poem that hits hard by showing us the way forward. Thank you.

Take care,

Michael ((hugs))