The Homeless Streets of San Francisco
Human waste and piles of trash
Hands held out for petty cash
This used to be a growing town
Now it seems a battleground
Cries for help, they go unanswered
The helpless treated just like cancer
Rubbish heaps that serve as beds
The daily struggle of getting fed
Not enough to go around
On the brink of shanty town
Street fighters and dumpster divers
All just struggling for survival
The system’s broken; it’s out of order
Getting worse with every quarter
Shopping carts and piles of needles
Infections, bleeding, and even measles
Disease and filth found every day
City leaders that have lost their way
A plastic pail and worn out chair
People passing just don’t care
Turn their heads and hustle by
Avoiding contact from their eyes
Canvas tents on every corner
Mothers, sons, friends, and daughters
Homeless camps are taking over
Complete collapse is coming closer
Doors are locked, so are windows
This changing city; San Francisco
HI-tech jobs and higher rent
Affordable housing came and went
Two worlds exist in the same city
Where wealthy people have no pity
Get them out, make them go!
Ship them off to Mexico
Or Canada or just far away
Take their trash and leave today
Call the police and clean things up
Or instead, throw a dollar in their cup
Help them up; your fellow humans
Let’s join hands and start a movement
The problem isn’t getting better
We need more than words and letters
A human solution to an inhuman situation
To stop the pain; end the starvation
Show the world what we can do
Let’s all help; me and you…
Questions & Answers
Comments
"The system’s broken; it’s out of order." Grim situation but described in good poetry. Well done!
In some ways it's good that you highlight it's happening in the West. Saw some of this in an African slum recently, indeed sometimes on the streets of the City. Not good to have this anywhere, but perhaps the problem and solution lies with both us and those who are meant to look after us.
Decent rhyming and flowed well.
- AUTHOR
Thanks for the support Delilah - Too often it seems that people in trouble become political pawns when they should be helped with dignity and compassion.
Great piece of writing Ralph. Absolutely breaks my heart to see others suffering and getting treated badly and I agree there needs to be something done instead of ignoring the problem like it doesn't exist. Sure, some may have an addiction or illness but someone showing they care might go a long way in helping them recover and rebuild their lives....
A 2008 survey by the United States Conference of Mayors asked 25 cities for their top three causes of homelessness. Substance abuse was the single largest cause of homelessness for single adults (reported by 68% of cities). Substance abuse was also mentioned by 12% of cities as one of the top three causes of homelessness for families. According to Didenko and Pankratz (2007), two-thirds of homeless people report that drugs and/or alcohol were a major reason for their becoming homeless.
Even though in many situations, substance abuse is a result of homelessness rather than a cause (people who are homeless often turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with their situations) addiction is a disease and would we leave any other diseased people on the streets without treatment?
We wouldn’t.
But we would find a way to give tyrants our government aid which makes them billionaires, give millions of dollars to politicians so they can get elected and become rich at our expense, allow billions of taxpayer monies be wasted on government programs that are unnecessary or wrought with billions in fraud that is NEVER addressed, bail out the corporations responsible for the economic collapse of 2008, or send a helicopter to Mars, and on and on with in your face blunders or endeavors that scream who cares about the homeless, they made their beds now let them lie in them.
love this piece , thanks for writing it.
- AUTHOR
I think that many people immediately assume homeless people are addicts or criminals, when most of them are just regular people who happen to be down on their luck.
Homelessness seems a growing problem - it's the same in the town live in in England. This is a lovely poem and I agree, we should all help these poor souls and not be unkind to them.
8