Sue Vincent’s #writephoto. Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights

Fingers almost blue, toes numb like her soul.
Fear has her in it’s grip , she was no longer whole.
The lights twinkle on the water and the snow
Eyes closed she stands silently rocking to and throw .
Warmth and home seemed a million miles away.
Under this bridge damp and bitter her only place to stay.
Tears cannot fall when frozen but they hurt as much.
She longed for a gentle word or loving touch.
Watching the lights on the water dance.
Like little fairies they leap and prance.
Music floats across the water to her ears
Laughter and an happy voices, she hears.
Tired, so tired she slumps down on the frozen ground
Watches the lights from the house praying never to be found.
Maybe she could of spoken out but she had not dared.
Who would believe her who would of cared
Slowly life slips away from her grasp.
Suddenly she is held in a warm, kind clasp.
A soft voice takes her to a happier place
She opens her eyes and sees God’s face.

Anywhere Evening News. Years Eve 2016 :another drug addict found dead under the the bridge opposite the Ferryman’s Inn.

Why.

Image from pixabay

She
Lived in 
The field all
Under the tree.
A tent, plastic bags
With lots of smelly mess. 
People complained because
They did not want to look at her
She made them feel uncomfortable
She swore, made mess but what was her story.
Why
Is she
Now living 
In a doorway
Come rain come or shine.
Two sleeping bags she owns.
A teddy,some plastic bags.
A note says "I lost my baby"
Her sad eyes say that this is so true
Where is the helping hand, where's kindness gone.

So many homeless people on our streets. They have become invisible, we pass them daily yet we don’t always see them. There was a young woman who lived in the field where I walk Ruby. She and her male friend had a couple of tents under one of the trees.

I did keep away as they could be abusive and I was worried that Ruby being a Labrador would eat something she shouldn’t. They slept in the field at night and during the day they sat in an empty doorway near one of the banks. I used to talk to her in the town , buy her a coffee. There was a deep sadness in her she had lost a baby and I really felt for her.

He disappeared first, now she is gone, they have been replaced by others. I wonder where they are.

*********

Image from here

I do  not  know  who  this  man is but  I have used his  face more  than once when  writing  about  compassion. There  is  something  in his  eyes that  reach out  telling  his  story pain, grief  rejection it is  all there!

I used  his  face  last  at Christmas while I was  talking  about  Crisis at Christmas .  Crisis is  the National Charity  for single  hopeless people. They  are dedicated  to  helping  people  and  giving  them a chane  to change  their life’s for the better, to give  them hope.

The  Charity  works  all year  round of  course  but  they  also do  Crisis at Christmas.  Volunteers spend a  fortnight  cooking, providing  a  warm place  to stay  for those  lost and lonely people. They  give  them new  clothes, a  hair cut   and  also help  them  to change  their  lives if  they  want  to. They  help  with  finding somewhere  to live  or a job  interview .

They  show  real  compassion  they  help  and  they are unpaid and  they  really  make  a  difference.

Homeless at Christmas

Where is she going and where has she been.

She is the most hopeless soul you have ever seen

Why is she out there why so alone .

Does no one miss her, has she no loving home.

Where are her parents , her teachers and friends

Is this all that is left to her, is this hopelessness where she ends.

Out in all weathers, aimless, sharing a bench with the old men in the park.

Scrounging for coffee and scraps of food from the back of the restaurants after dark.

Her Mother’s boyfriend was too fond of her. Her Mum to frightened or to busy to care.

Her teachers too busy didn’t notice the signs. Lost weight and dull eyes, loss of all flair.

It all came to a head when Mum found her with HIM in bed.

Mum wouldn’t listen to a word that she said.

He had raped her, she had pleaded her case .

But her Mum had screamed at her and then slapped her face

So now lost and lonely with no where to go

She wonders the big city her fears in full flow.

No one to love her no one to care she is homeless and helpless and underage.

Already she is changing , she has stolen for drink, her life’s spiraling downward and her head’s full of rage.

Why had Mum not listened , why had Mum let him push her out

She lost and she is hopeless prey to demons and doubt………………….

Image from Pixabay

“The poor are always with us” this is an old saying. Sadly it is very true and these days we are seeing more and more people sleeping rough.

Even in the small town I now live in I see more and more people sleeping rough. By homeless I don’t just mean men we are seeing more women and boys. They are getting younger.

Have you heard of Crisis at Christmas. You can either donate your time this Christmas this year or your money. Here is their Link.