She had done up her hair
I’d seen her standing there
In rain and in shine
Holding up her sign
Almost a living fixture
A living breathing mixture
Of bad luck and circumstance
Bad luck and no finance
But today her hair done neat
Defiantly to speak
With smile upon her face
“I am the Human Race!”
And I became aware
Almost enough to care
Yet caring was my daring
So damn the horns a’blaring
Her sign read ‘Single Mother…’
Her look not like the others
‘Single mother—Laid off work’
(By some inhuman jerk?)
She’d braved the heat
The dusty street
Suffered callous faces
Eyes diverted other places
But today her auburn hair
Was shining everywhere
Bright and done up right
To cancel out her plight
But who would see her showing
Who would look with knowing
The care that she had taken
To be shunned and thus forsaken
****
Not ‘Her,’ but a reasonable facsimile
****
Added Value
(Just To Accentuate my Point)
Vid Cred: Jan Hammer
***
A sad poem my friend. It is hard when we are walking the line of emptiness and almost giving-up. You made the reader feel and understand. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Thank you for sharing your work! I hope you will keep writing. Take good care Lance!
Her name is ‘Teresa’; she inspired me with her courage. Sadly, I never got to know her. Thank you Sandra for your wonderful comments.
I like the part about having her hair done was an act of defiance. Like a contradiction. Sad story but you captured her fighting spirit so well. I can picture her standing on the corner of a busy street with the world rushing by and people honking at you for noticing her. Beautifully done Lance! Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you Jonathan. I saw this woman everyday on my way to work. She was an inspiration. The woman in the photo is not her, but actually, pretty damn close.
Cheers
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GREAT VERSE—AND A WONDERFUL REDHEAD!!! AND A SIGN OF COMPASSION )MUST HAVE BEEN HER HAIR!) 🙂