“People who are homeless are not social inadequates. They are people without homes.” – Sheila McKechnie
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” – Albert Einstein
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” – Mother Teresa
Night on the town
Hunched slightly forward
He shuffles
From the steps
Of the coffee house
An old yarn cap
Pulled down
Hiding shaggy grey hair
Hands tremble
Clinging to a small paper cup
Hand out coffee
Black skin
Mingles with the night
His slight form
Hovers over
The un-cleared table
On the sidewalk
A ragged coat
Nearly swallows him
Turning cautiously
Side to side
He claims a half-eaten baguette
As his own
Huddled tightly
In a white plastic chair
He savors this feast
Morsel by morsel
Plucked from a hiding place
Beneath his arm
Tonight will be good
Without the pangs
Of hunger
He can brave the cold
Bisous,
Léa
poetry, photos and musings oh my! 
Sad reality…and you put it in words so beautifully
How kind. It was written years ago but I can still feel the cold, the night, and his pain.
And it is still very relevant today..
Unfortunately, it is still relevant and that is why I dusted it off and posted it. The coffee house where it happened was very recently smashed up during the protesting and rioting in Sacramento. Though far away, a friend keeps me posted and there was more than enough of it on Youtube. Thanks again.
Oh my that is terrible…i wish we all could find a way to live in harmony with one another..
“Come on people, smile on your brother, everyone come together try to love one another right now.” https://youtu.be/GdxUIZOzd5E
Paints a sad and accurate picture and takes you directly to that moment in time.
Unfortunately. I wrote it near the K Street mall just after a reading. It was so many years ago and despite the summer, I can still feel the chill.
I was greatly moved by your poem. It doesn’t take much to become homeless.
No. It does not. There is a growing segment of homeless that are children… where are they to go to be safe? Perhaps it is time to write more about that?
Thank you for the kind comment. The restaurant/cafe where that was written was a recent victim to the rioting in Sacramento.