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Letter

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"Homelessness is not the result of not having a house, it’s a lack of a soul in a body." –

Goitsemang Mvula, Poet

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A Sam Scott poem:
5th November 2023
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*WINNER* Placed 1st
Contest: Labyrinthine, Languish, Letter Words
Sponsored by: Constance La France

Listen to poem:

I peer through
Into your world
I smell the fragrance
Of family
Cooking roast dinner

I listen intently
Party poppers
And Happy Birthday songs
Someone singing in the shower

I see colours and shapes
Moving reflections on glass doors
Dancing couples 
A dog, shadow tail wagging

I feel the warm air
Of the inside world
Tangible moisture
Making my eyes steam up

I hear a phone ringing
Friendly chatter
About nothing important
Laughter

I peer through
Into your world
Yet, I am not to be invited
In from the cold

So I reverse
Retreat into the empty
Silent, homeless streets
Of a large cold city

The paper words
Letter unposted
Still clutched 
In my calloused hand

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Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 11/9/2023 8:55:00 AM

- Oh, a sad write ... excellent written - Congratulations on your win, Sam - hugs

Sam Scott
Date: 11/9/2023 11:28:00 PM

Why thank you kindly Anne-Lise :))

Ink Empress

Date: 11/2/2023 4:47:00 AM

Its sad that in developed countries too we still have homeless souls, struggling in the cold, and only kind ones reach out to help them, the quote you’ve used here is so deep! Where do you find these quotes? Its brilliant! and as i read this i cant help but feel for them, those in need and wish this world would be a better place! Love the flow of your poem and the evocative nature of it! Excellent! And poignant!

Ink Empress
Date: 11/4/2023 8:08:00 AM

Thats interesting!! Wow!

Sam Scott
Date: 11/3/2023 3:47:00 AM

You might also be interested to know that Goitsemang Mvula has posted on PS (like a long time ago)

Sam Scott
Date: 11/2/2023 9:38:00 PM

Quotes: Oh I collect them if they inspire me, sometimes they just fit :)

Sam Scott
Date: 11/2/2023 5:33:00 AM

This was a hard write. The letterbox (in the UK at least as it tends to be in the front door) becomes a portal between two worlds. Clearly there is a back-story here too but the quote is beautiful to me and not intended to belittle the harsh reality of homelessness, just help us question ourselves in our response and pre-judgement. Thank you Ink :)