The Locket
Homeless without a blanket
poor as a penniless pocket
so sad I can barely take it
around her neck a locket
She lives on a destitute island with unsettling surroundings. Cold nights. Black days. No one even notices her on the streets. People speed walk through Detroit so fast that they could care less about an innocent mother who has lost her job…as well as her son. He died last year from pediatric lymphoma. Her husband left her five years ago without looking back. He never cared about his family. He was just a selfish creep who ruined two lives. What kind of man doesn’t want to see his son while on his death bed? She will never recover from her losses.
Deep into the night during mid-winter, two feet of snow covered her waist down. Shivering beyond comprehension as her legs go numb. I see this happen way too often. She had no family with no other choice but to live on the streets. I weep every night after passing her. My husband lost his job and I have very little money. Every day I walk down to the library and every time I give her two dollars. I know it’s not much but it’s the best I can do. Maybe she can buy a hot dog and water. She is an outcast to strangers. They think she wants money for the bottle or drugs.
As she wanders through a dangerous city, she witnesses drug deal resulting in murder. She hurried and hid…but…unfortunately the dealer saw her. Eyes connected, her face white with her mouth open. She ran and ran and ran. Far enough to hide temporarily yet close enough for him to find her. The dangers of Detroit caught up with her…
The next day I was walking to the library. She wasn’t there. All I found was a locket. Inside a picture of her son and a tiny prayer.
-I never saw her again.
Homeless not her choice
poor as a long lost sheep
she didn’t carry a voice
forever she will sleep
Date Written: April 26, 2016
Copyright © Lu Loo | Year Posted 2016
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