The Homeless Man Poem by Alun Jones

I reluctantly wake up to another bleary, dreary day
To see the marks from those broken shards of glass
The anxiety, stress and anger, those desperate cries for help
Wrists throbbing, trails of blood, but still on this mortal earth
Shouting, crying at the top of my voice in my head
Those voices and screams, why why, but still left unheard
A hopeless situation in a hopeless uncaring world
Why do I carry on, I do not know
For I am the homeless man

As I walk and wait for the daily metro as the shops begin to open
Looking on as shutters go up, coffees are poured
Those enticing aromas that I can ill afford
Lost in the wilderness, trying to work things out
Confused, not understanding, just want to hide myself away
Those black clouds that are looming heavily above me
To tired to care anymore, to tired to walk, to tired to care
For I am the homeless man

I am the strange man people look at whilst sneering, jeering
Walking down the road getting on with their lives
The business men that carry on with their shallow existence
Unaware and unwilling to care
Their clockwork lives telling them to carry on
Stepping over you, shouting abuse whilst you just sit there
The mothers and children merrily off to school
Complaining because you’re in the way
Why, because I am the homeless man

I wave my hand out, only wanting some small change, begging to live
Thinking whether I will I eat today, but gone without now for so long
Do I even care whether I die or live in the uncaring world
The tall buildings that are drawing me near
Looking from the rooftops above, just one more step and it will all end
Unsure of what is stopping me taking that last plunge
Is there still a glimmer of hope, a strand from a rope to hold on too
For I am the homeless man

I am the man with hidden disabilities
No sticks or wheels to burden or for people to see
But the one in my head, the other person I hate the most
The resentment and anger I have for myself
For the person I have always long to be
Now the paved streets have turned to doors and bars
The sneers and jibes, anxiety and paranoia
What will the future hold for me, we will have to see
For I am the homeless man

So next time you walk through your town or city
On your way to school, work or leisure
And maybe you will come across a homeless man, woman or child
But do not walk past or shun away
A homeless person they may be, but humans they are too
Spare a kind thought, a handshake, or some small change
Because through some misfortune
You too could also be that homeless person