God's Strong Hands

God allowed him to see through their eyes,
feel their cries,
understand their plight,
with his body, but with their sight,
the alley way shimmered,
the night stars glimmered,
and the man found himself standing in a dark alley,
the stench of decaying rats,
discovered by hungry cats,
raw sewage, old smoke,
could lead anyone to choke,
as the less savory smells
hit him like a blow,
gagging, as he sensed hell,
displaying its best in show,
he steadied himself against a dirty red brick wall,
hearing the hungry call,
as he tried to keep himself from the fall,
his eyes grew accustomed to the dimness,
he glided up the alley as a shadow,
meaningless, but there,
ignored, but here,
if his shadow haven’t been silhouetted on the wall against the light,
he would have been another soul lost in the night.
People passed the alley without so much of a glance,
life gave him no chance,
as he was just another vague outline in society,
just like the abandoned crates and garbage bins all around,
he was just like garbage tossed on the ground,
his silhouette gave no clue on who he was,
just a flickering light,
from time to time just plain out of sight,
God’s strong hands seized his shoulders to steady him,
made him look at the people he once ignored,
made him understand,
that once in a while, people may need a loving hand.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Chircop Avatar
March 23, 2009 at 3:50 PM
this poem is one of my favourites,deep very deep,i like its ending too....
Christian Avatar
March 23, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Full of feeling Frank nice one god bless you frank from james
Strand Avatar
March 23, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Full of feeling Frank.Nice work.Rgds Brian & thanks for your welcome comments
Higgins Avatar
March 22, 2009 at 4:49 AM
You paint such a picture with words that really takes the reader on a roler coaster ride ...everything from raw sewage to old smoke...cats, rats,...and then the ending ...
P. Avatar
March 22, 2009 at 1:50 AM
Frank, this write is an insight to the way we live... your message of everyone needing a helping hand... is just well said in this write... to always keep faith and remember the best way to get from life is in trying to give or share... excellent compassion! ~ Arany
 Avatar
March 21, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Such a sad exitence, too often reality. With God there is always hope. When we help others, others help us too. Wonderful message here. Blessings to you for sharing it. Thank you for your kind words on my poem. Keep on writing! Karen
Christian Avatar
March 21, 2009 at 12:41 PM
well written frank, so many go unoticed so many suffer alone but gods helping hand is neevr too far away. god bless you from diane
Devonshire Avatar
March 21, 2009 at 9:20 AM
How sad it is when we reflect on the pain and misfortune of others, Frank. I'm glad God provides this opportunity to the character in your poem. He surely grows from it and I love the way God sparks compassion at the end. Very moving!
Chircop Avatar
March 21, 2009 at 9:18 AM
he was like garbage tossed on the ground,he was just another vague outline to society,people may need a loving hand.yeah when they get that loving hand they realize,they re not just a number,outline in society,they re worth much more,you have such deep emotions, you always manage to impress me,how do you do it?great poem-charma
Goff Avatar
March 21, 2009 at 8:43 AM
reads like a brick dropping from a heavy load, with a compassionate ending, wonderful work, Frank! Jim
Ginn Avatar
March 21, 2009 at 7:56 AM
What an ominous thought to see, and feel and understand the walk of others. That our opinions be based on empathy and not our self righteous, condeming ,self serving attitudes. Deep breath, you hit a raw nerve... Okay so its the weekend lighten up sunshine
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