Skating On Thicker Ice Poem by Phil Ward

Can you spare some coins from your change?
My life’s in a mess and I’ve got nothing left,
I’m all that you see sleeping rough on the street,
And the people I meet just couldn’t care less,
For a man in a stew I was once like you,
It was six month ago that inevitable blow,
That would turn me around like an old roundabout,
How things would work out from the throw of the dice,
Oh I wish I was skating on much thicker ice.

I look at me now as I reckon my worth,
I still have my health, ok minus the wealth,
And able to look at you straight in the eye,
As you pass me by I say to myself,
My pride is strong and I’ll get along,
Someone will help me it isn’t all bad,
I’ve had harder times when I was a lad,
A ten pence will do a pound would be nice,
Oh I wish I was skating on much thicker ice.

I go home at night to wherever I lay,
A doorway my bed where I rest my head,
There’s nothing more to me and I’ll struggle through,
My road I’ll pursue whatever’s ahead,
A prayer to arrange my direction to change,
I’m pinning my hopes on that time to come soon,
And I won’t have to spend my time under the moon,
Or begging on corners till I’ve paid the price,
Oh I wish I was skating on much thicker ice.

So why have you given me this path to take,
When I had it all and life was a ball,
Did I do wrong, please what did I do?
If only I knew I’ve tried to recall,
How low can I get from just losing a bet?
It won’t keep me down my spirits are high,
I’ll rise from the ashes and you watch me fly,
I’m going to be up there I’ve taken advice,
And soon I’ll be skating on much thicker ice.