Demons
DEMONS
by
JOHN M. ARRIBAS
There are scenes we encounter on a daily basis
Worn out shoes, dirty clothes and unshaven faces
A man unwashed and dirty, acting erratic
Joined by a likewise, both living nomadic
They’ve just emerged from across the street
Searching dumpsters for things to sell or eat
Soon they are joined by a woman in rags
Pushing a cart filled with dozens of bags
They act robotic all wearing a blind stare
They don’t see you, to them you’re not there
Everyone has demons deep with in their soul
That remain patiently dormant, awaiting a call
Then emerge insidiously, when you’re on trial
You can face your weakness or go into denial
It may not be easy for others to comprehend
They’ve not met the demons they’ll need to upend
Dismiss rash judgements they’re usually unsound
Erroneous labels can only confuse and confound
Their demons may come from another time
An endless penalty for an unpunished crime
You may labor forever attempting to undo
A merciless curse that was cast upon you
You are not alone there are others as well
Each days existence is a nightmare in hell
No one cares, each day is framed in gloom
Restitution is needed but where and to whom
Maybe in Nam where the duty was to kill
Or in a hospital where the baby was still
Are these humans insane or are they possessed
That is the answer that must be addressed
Demons(2)
There are too many to brush them aside
We need solutions to say, we’ ve really tried
These tortured souls need our recognition
To help them get sanity with no precondition
Don’t lock them up, don’t put them in jail
That type of remedy is destined to fail
So we clean them up, give them food to eat
Check them out, dump them back on the street
Trauma or heartache is the reason for some
To cede their resistance and slowly succumb
They’ve insulated themselves from the daily grind
Acting like vagabonds is the only peace they can find
Don’t be to quick to condemn them as waste
There are still obstacles we all have to face
There once was a fellow considered a mensch
Last time I saw him , sprawled out on a bench
Copyright © John Arribas | Year Posted 2016
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