Just another day in the neighborhood, I tried to do something good.
On the corner stood a homeless woman with a sign. She immediately touched this heart of mine. I handed her some change, she looked at me, mean and strange. The money she yanks, didn't even say thanks.
She went back to the corner and stood, still kept the same nasty mood. At the turn of the traffic light, I left her negative sight. I had no regret, I just tried to forget.
A good deed, for someone in need, this I did concede. I don't know what I expected, maybe a thank you connected. Instead I got an attitude, from a homeless lady rude.
Thanks for sharing emotions through prose with us.
Chrissy
Reviewed by Flying Fox Ted L Glines (Reader)
Reviewed on January 29, 2007
Maybe not a fiasco. There's a feeling that comes through your poem, and the feeling is that the homeless lady hated everything about herself and her need to stand at that corner begging for survival! And maybe she will get enough change to go and buy a bottle of wine, drink it in some sheltered place, and escape ... herself. Maybe in the muddled fuzzy dreams of wine -- she smiles. I think I really like this poem!
Ted
Reviewed by Chantilly Lace (Reader)
Reviewed on January 29, 2007
Enjoyed very much...Hugsssssssssssssss sweet man
Reviewed by Michael Mathieu (Reader)
Reviewed on January 29, 2007
Sad but true. I gave a hobo a few dollers once and all he did was buy a bottle of wine and passed out in a box car.They had an article on T.V. about this matter,and turns out a lot of people do it and then change into nice clothes afterwards,not homeless at all and some drive nice cars.
Thanks for sharing,
Michael
Reviewed by ~ Holly Harbridge (Reader)
Reviewed on January 29, 2007
Truly a sad poem Grady, but it's reality.. way too much. Love Holly
i think sometimes there is resentment that we have and they need but it is unfair to blame the one who tries to help...i think anyone who begs is angry, with themselves or with life...who knows but the anger shows
I can relate to this.
Two Christmas ago I saw an old lady outside of the mall in the chill asking passerbys for spare change so she could have something to eat. Since it was Christmas I gave her $20.00 and asked her not to stand in the cold, but to go into to the mall to have a coffee. She agreed to my suggestion but did not do it. Then she turned around and continued to ask others for spare change.
The following day I had to go to the mall again to do my Christmas shopping, and I saw the same old lady again asking everyone for spare change. I did not want to give again since she did n;t take my advice not to stand outside in the cold. (she could have gone inside the mall and do the same thing and be warm in there, but she did not take my suggestion. She just wanted to stay outside of the mall to do this so everyone would sympathize with her), so I said to her I have not got any change on that day, which was true I did not have bills that were less than $20.00, but I do not wish to give her another $20.00 again since she was there continuously all day begging for money.
I told her I will go shopping first and then if I see her later on when I finished my shopping I will have some change for her. To my surprise she did not take my answwer to heart as kindness, she turned on me and swore obscenities at me. I was quite surprised at her language for being an old lady of her age she shouldn't even be using that kind of language, so I had decided not to give her anything from then on.
She continued to be in the same place begging for money every time I went to the mall, so I know she is a habitual begger; and I could see that because of her hostility toward others, a lot of people didn't really want to give her money.
Just to let you know that you're not the only one who has met with hostility for helping others. I did received the same treatment as well.
However, this will not influence me on my outlook in life, I would still help another if I know he/she is really in need of help. I'm sure you feel the same way too.
I don't like to give money to people begging on the street, having heard stories and witnessed some of them living far better than I do, or worse spending the money they are given on cigarettes. Personally, I couldn't afford to have a smoking habit so if they are buying smokes, I am going to guess that they have more money than I do. One time, I went to a deli and had a very nice sandwich made, served with a side of potato salad, pickle and a cookie and I purchased a large bottle of water to take to a homeless man who I saw daily holding a sign that said he was hungry. I handed him the container and the water telling him that I had just had it made fresh for him at the local place, the receipt was still attached to the top of the container, as I tried to give it to him, he took his hand and slapped the container from my hand and into the air throwing the food all over the place and then asking me "what good is that going to do me? I need your money, not your sympathy." Stunned, I just told him, "then change your sign to let us know." So much for my attempt at helping out a person I thought to be in need. Now I just give money to the local food bank every month and tell them to go there where they will be fed. I guess we live and learn, but just when did beggars become so darned choosey? Timely write, but it is sad that things are really like this.
Take care,
Sherry
Just as life during the pandemic was color-coded with different hues representing different levels of danger, life in its aftermath has become shaded in similar ways. As a self-styled “Seeker of Beauty with Beauty,” (borrowing from a quote by W.E.B.
The Wholly Book of Exodus is humorous adult literature that features adult language, situations and content. It is the companion book of Jay Dubya's The Wholly Book of Genesis that satires the entire first book of the Bible.
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Chrissy
Ted
Thanks for sharing,
Michael
I can relate to this.
Two Christmas ago I saw an old lady outside of the mall in the chill asking passerbys for spare change so she could have something to eat. Since it was Christmas I gave her $20.00 and asked her not to stand in the cold, but to go into to the mall to have a coffee. She agreed to my suggestion but did not do it. Then she turned around and continued to ask others for spare change.
The following day I had to go to the mall again to do my Christmas shopping, and I saw the same old lady again asking everyone for spare change. I did not want to give again since she did n;t take my advice not to stand outside in the cold. (she could have gone inside the mall and do the same thing and be warm in there, but she did not take my suggestion. She just wanted to stay outside of the mall to do this so everyone would sympathize with her), so I said to her I have not got any change on that day, which was true I did not have bills that were less than $20.00, but I do not wish to give her another $20.00 again since she was there continuously all day begging for money.
I told her I will go shopping first and then if I see her later on when I finished my shopping I will have some change for her. To my surprise she did not take my answwer to heart as kindness, she turned on me and swore obscenities at me. I was quite surprised at her language for being an old lady of her age she shouldn't even be using that kind of language, so I had decided not to give her anything from then on.
She continued to be in the same place begging for money every time I went to the mall, so I know she is a habitual begger; and I could see that because of her hostility toward others, a lot of people didn't really want to give her money.
Just to let you know that you're not the only one who has met with hostility for helping others. I did received the same treatment as well.
However, this will not influence me on my outlook in life, I would still help another if I know he/she is really in need of help. I'm sure you feel the same way too.
Sandie Angel :o)
Take care,
Sherry