Ken Carroll Poet Free verse

Street People

Lingering (in foggy haze)

Silhouettes of lost souls

(basket people muttering)

Lingering

(as they always do)

Culture of poverty
holding up signs
will work for food
the barefoot children
HIV and hunger
the powerless mothers...

Lingering

Cult of personalities speak
(the politicians)
eager for answers we listen
to false hope.

Lingering

Embers dancing in the wind
and the Spanish Moss
that hangs from magnificent 
oaks
begin to fall like funeral 
draperies
that echo meaningless sighs...

Lingering...
~ ~ ~

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Karen Murphy April 21, 2014 at 10:30 PM Hi Ken enjoyed your poem. I could be on the street and see your writing of it all. (:) Karen Ken Carroll April 21, 2014 at 10:35 PM Thank you Karen

Donna Jones March 20, 2014 at 10:38 PM Ken..very haunting how you linked the three stanzas together with the lingering...so terrific...a vivid picture left imprinted..well done... Ken Carroll March 20, 2014 at 11:41 PM Donna thank you for the lovely visit!

Cecilia Macfarlane March 20, 2014 at 5:01 PM Ken this excellent, I can only imagine the plight of the homeless, your words are written with so much meaning. A heartfelt piece. Hugs Ken Carroll March 20, 2014 at 6:31 PM Cecilia thank you for stopping by!

Dr.Ram Mehta March 17, 2014 at 5:22 AM A well penned poem, enjoyed it. Congrats on the poem being featured this week, ken Ken Carroll March 17, 2014 at 12:48 PM Thank you Dr. Ram..

Larry Berdoo March 16, 2014 at 11:20 PM You painted a picture of many hungry streets. Good write, Ken Ken Carroll March 17, 2014 at 12:48 PM Thank you kindly Larry!

Skat A March 16, 2014 at 2:32 PM Ken, it's nice seeing your poem on the soups home page...SKAT Ken Carroll March 17, 2014 at 12:47 PM Nice to read from you Skat! Thank you..

Poet Destroyer A March 16, 2014 at 2:15 PM Hi Ken :) It was nice to see your poem featured in the poetry soups, home page. Enjoy the coming week. Always & Forever *LINDA Ken Carroll March 17, 2014 at 12:47 PM Thank you Linda for the lovely visit...

Carol Eastman March 14, 2014 at 10:38 AM I loved Charmaine Chircops word 'profound'. It fit it perfectly! Ken Carroll March 14, 2014 at 11:22 AM Thank you Carol!

Charmaine Chircop March 13, 2014 at 5:55 PM A sad and profound reality expressed in amazing words lingering for us to read and to feel!Btw tnks for your kind comments : ) Ken Carroll March 13, 2014 at 6:05 PM Thank you Charmaine..It's always a pleasure to read your verse..

Poet Destroyer A March 13, 2014 at 12:46 AM This is the beautiful side of the world. it comes with all hopes. love the echo sounds... Linda Poet Destroyer A March 13, 2014 at 12:59 AM thank you for the soup mail... Ken Carroll March 13, 2014 at 12:56 AM Thank you for visiting Linda..

Lucilla Carrillo March 12, 2014 at 6:20 PM Hola Ken; This is a great poem, but very sad. Through out life I have met a lot of homeless people. I try to help any way I can, but they need more help than that. The people at the top, choose to look the other way.Thanks for sharing... Lucilla Ken Carroll March 12, 2014 at 6:39 PM Hola Lucilla, Thank you you for visiting! Respecto, Ken

Sara Kendrick March 12, 2014 at 6:13 PM Very expressive and emotive work that you have penned...I enjoyed reading it and I have seen in some places that I have been what must be the ideas and emotions expressed here..Thanks for the visit to my page..Sara Ken Carroll March 12, 2014 at 6:38 PM Thank you Sara..Good to read from you..

Robert Pettit March 12, 2014 at 5:52 PM Whenever I walk the boardwalk in Atlantic City from Albany Avenue in the south, to Massachusetts Avenue at the north inlet, at least three people pertinaciously ask me for money. Their numbers are definitely on the increase. Good descriptive write. Ken Carroll March 12, 2014 at 5:55 PM Thanks Robert for stopping by today!

Nette Onclaud March 12, 2014 at 2:18 PM power-packed work expressing the dire plight of the common man... so well composed from the deep recesses of your soul, ken... huggs Ken Carroll March 12, 2014 at 2:26 PM I'm so sorry Nette..I'm at work and was distracted...lol Thank you as always! Ken Carroll March 12, 2014 at 2:18 PM Thank you for the lovely visit Anne!

Anne-Lise Andresen March 12, 2014 at 2:09 PM - "Street People" is really "you and I" in our cold and harsh world - Laws that breaks, false hope, hunger and war .... A poem that applies to us all!! - Well done Ken, thank you for writing this - A wake up call. - oxox // Anne-Lise :) Ken Carroll March 12, 2014 at 2:25 PM Thank you Anne for the lovely visit..

Eileen Manassian March 12, 2014 at 1:21 PM Oh Ken...this is absolutely magnificent...Lingering...It will linger...Unfortunately...this will always be a part of this world's every day scenes because we have become heartless...Wow..Thanks for highlighting this.... Ken Carroll March 12, 2014 at 1:27 PM Thank you friend girl Eileen!