Panhandling Days in the Rearview
Driving by this corner
My eyes tear up like morning dew
I used to live here
Harsh nights, cold mornings
Even while I had no place to call home
Love and kindness resided in my heart
Now that an abode has found me
Sometimes the echoes of the street
Ring in my ears during the nightfall
Scrounging and scraping for loose change
Fallen from past days, reduced to panhandling
Now that an abode has saved me
I still cherish pieces of me from those fallen days
Thank you for stopping by to read! 🙏🏽🤍Panhandling Days in the Rearview is written for the prompt by Sadje.
Image credit: Tanya Barrow @Unsplash
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5 replies on “Panhandling Days in the Rearview”
Your poem moved me because it captures the reality that being unhoused is only part of a person’s story, not the whole story. I especially appreciated how you showed that even during the harshest nights and coldest mornings, love and kindness remained despite difficult circumstances. Truly felt this one!
Latoya, thank you so much! Being unhoused is a reality, even more so these days. I think those difficult times are when people can find a glimmer of something good. It will not be easy, but it is possible. 💞🙏🏽
This is a very moving and heartfelt poem O’Nika. You’ve recalled the past with affection and not disdain. Thanks for joining in.
Thank you, Sadje for the inspiration! When I saw this image, I was compelled to write about how being displaced can affect someone. Even though it might be a bad situation, there is always something positive that can be taken from it. 💞🙏🏽
I like bed the positive take O’Nika. Thanks again