I heard you correct
The first time
All you ever initially asked for
Was buddy can you spare a dime
But thinking I am so kind
I pulled out and offered you
A $100 dollar bill note instead
Honestly I think for the sole reason because
So I could lord and let myself
And believe my goodness
Go to my head
So buddy as little as you may think
You may have or haven't got
What you in fact do
Or will never want
Is anything in fact
From me
Because what I obviously
Do not possess
Is a single ounce
Of humility
Or
Humanity
Fantasmal Walk back into line
limes and lemons keeping time
So like crisping bacon or drinking wine
Out of the box ...can you spare a dime?
Touch me with your lust devine
Hating you!...with each new rhyme
Homeless, Mister, can you spare a dime,
Been like this for a long, long time,
Lost this leg in Afghanistan,
Trying to do the best that I can.
Homeless, Mister, you got any work?
I’ve a license to drive a truck,
Thanks to you anyway my friend,
For a long time just the way it’s been.
Homeless, Mister, where’s a good shelter,
Need to get out of the weather,
One hundred degrees in summer,
And zero degrees in the winter.
Homeless, Mister, can you give a ride,
It’s not very far, just two miles,
Could you buy me a bite to eat,
Promise not to soil your leather seats.
Most distressing in America,
In this great land of plethora,
Hearing the words time after time,
Homeless, Mister can you spare a dime.
I feel like I can move forward now
I have completed what I think is my legacy ?
I've staked my reputation on it
So if you want or feel the urge to comment
Please go ahead make my boring day
As to me even criticism I do not mind
At least you took the time
I will be fine I am in my prime
Buddy can you spare a dime
Or a second of your time
To fill in my comments line
Brother can you spare a dime?
Brother do you got the time?
To think about me, brother can’t you see?
That I am a person, I do exist.
Even though I live in the street,
We all have human needs to meet.
Don’t judge me because you think that I am no good,
I am not evil, just misunderstood.
I could have had a family, a daughter, a wife,
I was a father, a brother, a son, a life.
Once I was as proud as you, now I have nothing to do,
But hang my head, waiting to be dead.
It hurts to hear what people say,
I didn’t want to end up this way.
But life has many twists and turns,
Ups and downs, good times and bad times one learns.
When you pass me on this dreary day,
Try to remember a prayer to say,
Thank God when you do,
It will help not only me, but also you.
Compassion Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Line Gauthier
6/3/19
So young and newly married
Hanging on by the thread of love
Sometimes though in life we see
That thread isn't wound tight enough
Through the daily struggles
Most of them unseen
What happened to the newlywed
Where went all the dreams
Holding on
Barely holding on...
A father and husband out of work
A family living out of the car
Is this the American dream we've built
Is this now where we are
Cardboard serves a purpose
As a bed and a homemade sign
To keep the cold off of the floor
Hey brother can you spare a dime
Holding on
Barely holding on...
The doctors diagnosis
Doesn't give much hope for life
Just a simple six months ago
There was no thought of dying
Even less hope in your case
Just prolonging time
You could spend what little you have left
Or go ahead and say your goodbyes
Holding on
Barely holding on...
No matter your life's lot
The position that you hold
We're all in the same boat on the same stream
Trying to stay afloat
There are so many different scenarios
Which could haunt many a page
That in life continually follow us
Throughout all our days of
Holding on
Barely holding on...
execute sagaciously state of pushing the button putting knowledge to the test can you spare a dime
will you be kind
can you spare a dime
food on my mind
make hollard
DIME OR A DOLLARS
All you bums of the world unite!
Now I don't mean the fleshy kind
I mean the ones you see on the streets
“Brother can you spare a dime?”
That must have been many years ago
'Coz you can't get a coffee for that
Might pay the tax on a small size cup
But I'm not even sure of that fact
What are they begging for nowadays
A couple of bucks or more?
That doesn't get you very much either
It will soon be a ten spot for sure
Really don't mind helping them out
These poor unfortunate souls
I pray it stops, this downward spiral
Before I'm in that very same role?
© Jack Ellison 2013
sijo with notes
Although , everyone knew what was needed was a “quarter;”
yet all we asked for was a dime,* it would have helped us move on.
My rich bro gave me his two cents worth, which surprised no one.
FYI: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” — The Anthem of the Great Depression. In 1932, a young New York City lyricist named E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, together with composer Jay Gorney, penned what is considered the anthem of the Great Depression, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” It was part of the 1932 musical Americana.
*FYI 2: The dime referred to meant $10.00 during the depression.
Sending foreign aid just doesn’t make sense
With American families living in tents
Just how many countries rushed to give cash
When into New Orleans Katrina crashed
San Andreas fault runs through our nation
Cross Western states, widespread devastation
Our British, Aussie and Canadian friends
Are the only ones on whom we can depend
Uncle Sam’s pockets are bare; there’s no gold
To back the dollars printed multifold
Countries that dislike “rich Americans”
Always look to us with their outstretched hands
If a mega-disaster should strike Iraq
We’d offer support, say, “We’ve got your back”
And yet these nations would sneer at us still
The debt-ridden states abound with good will
Charity, they say, should begin at home
But to other nations our dollars roam
“Say, buddies,” we beg, “can you spare a dime?”
As out of poverty we seek to climb
homeless,lost tonight
once I was a Mother's child
can you spare a dime?