A Sunken Heart

A couple of twisted shacks composed in Card Board City in Everywhere 

County the nameless man or woman spits out another tooth with 
                                               
        Tuberculous phlegm

An eye for an eye no dentures for grinding venture just an evil spell of 

Garbage soiled clothes or what remains of them beer cans and urine 

                       Wrenching stench

Few coins because this is No Go Area for anyone but outcasts forgotten 

Vermin and while the rats from overflowing sewers gnaw happily amongst 
                            
                                    The debris

The coughing cusp the curse of festered purulence progresses to one final 

Rattle then in the morgue the pathologist puts on a second pair of plastic  
                               
                                          Gloves in terminal grace

It’s cold in there the frozen room however warmer kinder than the cast out 

Street on which the vagrant’s plight had long forgotten he had been a human 

                                                     Child of God

He She it was who chose their own abode who took to drink a lazy bugger 

Beggar refused (?) to take the pills for the psychosis of Self society and 

                                                        Sacred misery

Foul swelling smelling accusations circle the pauper’s grave yard and fathom

On the forgotten broken altar of communal denial in compassion only for 

                                                                 The chosen

And yet did we pick our own genes from a catalogue of plenty did we have 

Any choice have we ourselves decided on our parents school our place and 
   
                                                 Placement in the gutter

While what remains of this abandoned man or woman is just a pickled liver in 

A jar a desolate brain and stagnant lung in formalin to teach the meaning of 

                                         Disease

As no one but the fellow stragglers mourn and someone else takes place and 

Demise on the streets of Everywhere I cannot reach out from my poet’s den 

                                   and feather pillow

Unless I walk the path in my own mind at least do not calm my troubled 

Conscience decide this injustice is far too important to leave tentative solution 

                           To other's 'othering' 

The scars of wounded side lined residents on the outskirts deep inside 

Inverted gaze continues to be downplayed as a sad simple blemish while the 
                  
                   Sickness resides in me

Could be my drink my card board my phlegm exhaled onto my own corroded 

Silver spoon my abyss my rats and stinking garments my hobo’s sunken eyes 
 
      And heart

25th March 2018

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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Date: 4/18/2018 9:00:00 PM
Congratulations on your win. A very descriptive piece.
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 4/20/2018 1:37:00 AM
Thank you Susan. I appreciate that. Kind wishes, Kai
Date: 4/18/2018 4:06:00 AM
Congratulations, Kai on your win.
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 4/20/2018 1:37:00 AM
Thank you very much Subimal. Many wishes to you, Kai
Date: 4/17/2018 5:46:00 PM
Wow the things we take for granted in our clean shiny houses. What a fabulous write about an unimaginable environment that is no exaggeration for some poor souls. Awesome job, Kai.
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 4/20/2018 1:38:00 AM
Thank you so much Line. Kind wishes to you, Kai
Date: 4/17/2018 3:22:00 PM
So much to ponder Kai, written in your unique style, worthy of placing in my contest!
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 4/18/2018 3:47:00 AM
Thank you so much John. I appreciate that. And thank you for sponsoring the contest. I need triggers and I enjoyed this contest very much. Many wishes, Kai
Date: 3/28/2018 9:18:00 AM
Yes, intense ruminations on the welfare of capitalism...your thoughts give pause, a new way of thinking will emerge, it will be slow, probably not in my lifetime, but equality and justice must evolve, thank you for this beautiful poem!
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 3/28/2018 10:44:00 AM
Thank you for your compliment. You are right evolution is slow. But then humanity as such is actually a fairly recent subject. Maybe we must give it (action of course) more time. Many wishes, Kai
Date: 3/25/2018 7:31:00 PM
wow, such a powerful poem. Is it for the societal discontent challenge. It sure belongs in that contest. This is the line that especially stood out for me: cannot reach out from my poet’s den and feather pillow Unless I walk the path in my own mind....
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 3/26/2018 2:07:00 AM
Thank you Andrea. The poem has been on my mind for a long time, but then I did write it for the social injustice contest indeed.
Date: 3/25/2018 4:56:00 PM
so remarkably delivered...taut and desolate, kai... huggs
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 3/26/2018 2:08:00 AM
Thank you Nette. Hugs back to you...
Date: 3/25/2018 7:35:00 AM
Very sad poem indeed...feels a little helpless as you read...All the best Kai
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 3/26/2018 2:12:00 AM
It is sad and feels helpless. That is what the poem is supposed to engage with. We can only do our little bit.
Date: 3/25/2018 7:25:00 AM
This is a significant write that strikes at the heart. Well expressed! Thanks for your visit.
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Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 3/26/2018 2:14:00 AM
Thank you for the compliment Richard. Trump will probably build a wall around the camps he will establish. To 'concentrate the people...
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