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Treated Like Garbage

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Although flawless counts are impossible to come by – the transient nature of homeless populations presents a major difficulty – the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 47,725 veterans are homeless on any given night.

Information sourced from: nchv.org/index.../background_and_statistics

Passersby rush past on their daily commute to work Day after day they see me; or others like me. We’re like unwanted rubbish on the city streets cowering in shop doorways, acting like frightened animals. People hurry by; few look me directly in the eye … I guess they think I’m trash, just a discarded soul littering the street The cops come along acting like the trash collectors moving me on and dumping me elsewhere. People seldom ask me my story, what compelled to live on the streets - if only people would stop and listen. Gee if I could turn my life around I would Every night I dream of sleeping in a warm cosy bed having food in my starving belly, a job …. There are many war veterans forced to live in ‘cardboard city’ They gave so much for their country … now abandoned, they are the forgotten army. Contest: Garbage.N/A in contest judged on 7/22/16 Submitted to I Got Zero, Nothing, Nada- 2 - Poetry Contest Sponsored by Broken Wings 07~17~16

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Jesse Day

Date: 8/6/2016 6:29:00 AM

Sad shadows considering all the wonderful things many have to be thankful. Congrats on your win! Jesse

Jan Allison
Date: 8/7/2016 2:44:00 PM

Thanks so much Jesse:-) hugs Jan xx

Eve Roper

Date: 8/4/2016 10:38:00 PM

Jan, congratulations on your 1st place win!!!

Jan Allison
Date: 8/5/2016 7:36:00 AM

Thanks Eve:-) hugs Jan xx

Anisha Dutta

Date: 8/4/2016 8:32:00 AM

Being an Indian I see lots of footpath dwellers each time I am out, though I do not know the exact statistics. Administration is hardly aware. congrats to win

Jan Allison
Date: 8/4/2016 12:24:00 PM

Thanks Anisha, thankfully in 20 years on our little Island I have only seen one visibly homeless person so it is such an eyeopener when I travel to different places:-( hugs Jan xx

Charlie Smith

Date: 8/4/2016 7:21:00 AM

A poignant piece Jan, congratulations...

Jan Allison
Date: 8/4/2016 12:22:00 PM

Thanks Charlie:-) hugs Jan xx

Sunita U.D Palawon

Date: 8/3/2016 11:25:00 PM

This is very touching and sad...food for thoughts...Congrats on your 1st place win. :) Sunita

Jan Allison
Date: 8/4/2016 7:07:00 AM

Thanks so much Sunita:-) hugs Jan xx

Janis Medders Tobechi

Date: 8/3/2016 11:05:00 PM

Congratulations on first place Jan. This is a poem that talks about a real growing problem. The first person voice is brilliant.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/4/2016 7:10:00 AM

Thanks Janis I am really proud of the poem and so grateful for the second chance contests to give it an opportunity to be showcased:-) hugs Jan xx

Janice Canerdy

Date: 8/3/2016 10:19:00 PM

A 7 for a well-written, heart-wrenching, WINNING poem! Congrats, Jan. Janice

Jan Allison
Date: 8/4/2016 7:10:00 AM

Thanks Janice:-) hugs Jan xx

Paul Schneiter

Date: 7/22/2016 11:44:00 AM

Jan, Your poem says something extremely disturbing about what has happened to our humanity and civility--and, yes, our sense of gratitude. Thank you for writing it. Not surprisingly, it is masterfully composed. love & hugs x x x

Jan Allison
Date: 7/22/2016 12:28:00 PM

Thanks Paul - I wrote another poem called 'lowest of the low' on the same subject - its tragic to see the people who fought for their country treated so appallingly:-( hugs jan xx

Susanne Bettis

Date: 7/20/2016 7:21:00 AM

This is very well-penned and a great voice of the homeless veterans that truly are strewn about our city streets here like trash. A very difficult think to see. We, fortunately, have a lot of outreach programs, and financial assistance programs - in addition to VA benefits, that assist them here. Great writing. Good luck in the contest. God bless and hugs, Susanne

Jan Allison
Date: 7/20/2016 9:25:00 AM

Thanks Susanne - where I live we have no visible homeless living on the streets but I see many when we travel to different place:-( hugs jan xx

Joanna Daniel

Date: 7/19/2016 5:18:00 AM

This is such a sad write :( A great use of the metaphor of garbage:) All the best in the contest:)

Jan Allison
Date: 7/20/2016 9:24:00 AM

Thanks Jo:-) I'm not sure if its what the sponsor is after but I am pleased with the comments I've received:-) hugs Jan xx

Sharon Gulley

Date: 7/18/2016 12:51:00 PM

A beautiful and sad write, Jan. It is so sad that we are reminded how far we as a nation still have to go in order to learn to love one another for who and what we are or give in and to this life. An awesome write and a (7) for me. Hugs Sharon

Jan Allison
Date: 7/18/2016 1:29:00 PM

Thanks Sharon we are lucky on our little Island we have no one visibly sleeping rough on the streets but I see it so often when we travel to the Uk or futher afield:-( hugs Jan xx

Sandra Haight

Date: 7/18/2016 9:31:00 AM

Wow, Jan, this is so emotional and heartbreaking. Your poem has imaged this atrocity so well. I think it will do very well in the contest. 7 Hugs, Sandra

Jan Allison
Date: 7/18/2016 9:33:00 AM

Thanks Sandra - I am happy with the poem and the wonderful comments I have received so dn't mind if I don't place in the contest :-) hugs Jan xx

Angie Thomas

Date: 7/18/2016 6:24:00 AM

Awww this is so sad... No one deserves to be treated this way... The saddest part of it all is that they are usually honest men and wine who are cheated by fate... I hope someday we can help such people. I'm he meantime, Great write Jan :)

Jan Allison
Date: 7/18/2016 7:41:00 AM

Thanks Angie :-):-) so lovely to see you back on soup:-):-) hugs jan xx

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 7/18/2016 5:39:00 AM

Poignant writing and so true. If we could realize that it is possible to happen to us as well, probably we could become more sensitive! I think, those who have served their country should never be betrayed by it! It is a dishonor! Great Writing dear, Jan. A seven!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/18/2016 7:40:00 AM

Thanks Demetrios :-) hugs jan xx

Agona Apell

Date: 7/17/2016 11:53:00 PM

"Forgotten Army"... This captures powerfully the negligence of society in the fate of these poor souls. "People hurry by; few look me directly in the eye … I guess they think I’m trash, just a discarded soul littering the street The cops come along acting like the trash collectors moving me on and dumping me elsewhere..." Painful, painful...

Jan Allison
Date: 7/18/2016 3:23:00 AM

Thanks Agona - I think the lines you quote pack quite a punch:-( hugs Jan xx

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/17/2016 4:53:00 PM

Very good entry. So thoughtful.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/17/2016 5:09:00 PM

Thanks Andrea I doubt its what the sponsor is after but I go with the flow of my pen:-) hugs Jan xx

Paul Callus

Date: 7/17/2016 4:33:00 PM

It's no fun living like this; many would gladly opt for something better, but they have no alternative. War veterans, especially, deserve much better! gl in the contest, Jan! Hugs // paul

Jan Allison
Date: 7/17/2016 4:37:00 PM

Thanks Paul - we are lucky we have no veterans living like this on our little Island but I know there is a huge problem in other parts of the world:-( hugs Jan xx

Royal Ninja

Date: 7/17/2016 4:06:00 PM

Jan, powerful write. Royal

Jan Allison
Date: 7/17/2016 4:38:00 PM

Thanks Royal:-) hugs Jan xx

Sara Chansarkar

Date: 7/17/2016 4:01:00 PM

What can be sadder than humans treated like garbage!I admire you for being the voice of veterans,great poem Jan!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/17/2016 4:38:00 PM

Thanks Sara I doubt it is what the sponsor is looking for in the contest but i go with my muse:-) hugs jan xx

Arthur Vaso

Date: 7/17/2016 3:54:00 PM

This is a beautiful poem tackling a very difficult topic.I always deeply admire when one gives a voice to those whose voices are seldom heard. As poets and writers we owe an immense gratitude to the soldiers, whom without, we may not have such freedoms of the pen! This is a Fav!!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/17/2016 4:40:00 PM

Thanks for your wonderful comment Arthur, I guess its a follow up poem to my lowest of the low - I know that one moved you as you featured it on your amazing web page:-) hugs Jan xx

Tim Smith

Date: 7/17/2016 2:42:00 PM

It is a sad situation Jan and many are afraid to go to the shelters. Wonderful poem.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/17/2016 2:47:00 PM

Thanks Tim it is so sad to think they are treated so appallingly after giving their all - so many of their issues are as a result of what they experienced in their work and its such a shame more is not done to help them:-( hugs jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 7/17/2016 1:47:00 PM

- No respect, treated as inferior human beings .... or garbage - What a price to pay, left on the street - Give them the respect they deserve - A serious topic Jan, really wonderful written (7) - Good luck in the contest - hugs //Anne-Lise :)

Jan Allison
Date: 7/17/2016 1:51:00 PM

Thanks Anne Lise I doubt it is what the sponsor is looking for but I have to go with my muse on these themes - thankfully we have no veterans on the streets of our little Island but sadly I see them when we travel elsewhere or see homeless people in general - there are so many reasons for them to be out on the streets - its so sad to see:-( hugs jan xx