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I Wandered Lonely As a Puppet Thru Reno

"I wandered lonely as a cloud"
                 William Wordsworth. 

I wandered lonely as a puppet thru Reno
Like a weathered kite without it's tail
My feet take in a casino 
As I followed that beaten trail
O'er the sea of green I splash
With a wrinkled dollar in cash

I find a table and take in a chair
With my three back packs at my side
Happy I am amongst the stare
Eventhough my lot in life's a low tide
Three patrons pinched their noses
If only they knew how it goes

The dark side of living on the street
A constant bobbing thru skid row
Where every pocket filled with defeat
Twenty four seven, I have nowhere to go
Save for a treasure in the thrash
I find a half eaten burrito to add to my stash

To the other street rats I fear
They'll steal my sandal
Take my cardboard box and gear
And part with my coins from a panhandle
I'm used to being knocked to the ground
But I can only whimper and not make a sound

As I snap out of my nightmare
The dealer ask if my money play
I look down at my bet and say a prayer
Lord, I urge, let this be the day
Let the daffodils spread and spread
The ball lands on black and I'm seeing red

9/20/2022

I Wandered Lonely As --- Challenge Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Natasha L Scragg

7th place

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Connie Pachecho

Date: 9/26/2022 2:39:00 PM

Writers notes. I used the analogy of puppet and kite, like in both instances my line is pulled by circumstances and certainly like a kite without a tail. The line ... bobbing thru skidroll is consistent with the aforementioned. The last line, sigh, I took my wrinkled dollar to the roulette table and had the choice of betting on red or black. I bet it all on red. The ball landed on black hence the reason I'm seeing red (wordplay).From Wordsworth's highlighted poem-I uses daffodils and o'er.

Natasha L Scragg

Date: 9/24/2022 3:58:00 AM

Connie thank you for this interesting entry. I feel you touch an important issue with your poem. How alone a victim of addiction can feel weather it is gambling, drinking, or other kinds. Thank you for this angle. Congrats on your placement. :-D

Connie Pachecho
Date: 9/24/2022 7:28:00 AM

Thankyou, Natasha.

Susan Woodrow

Date: 9/20/2022 8:11:00 PM

The sad plight of the lonely homeless Awesome write :)

Connie Pachecho
Date: 9/24/2022 7:30:00 AM

Thankyou, Susan.