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Outinda Street

The Reader's recent article about the homeless people in downtown San Diego, revived my sincere concern for their health and safety. Especially with the cold nights we have been experiencing lately. I like so many others would like to do something more viable for them, but when face to face with these individuals, I feel intimated not only by their appearance but I wonder about their sanity. Since each has walked a separate path, each must have a unique problem. I wrote the following poem in hopes that others might understand my thoughts.

                Outinda Street

Who are you out roaming the streets, The one without spirit, but not sore feet?
Gone is the sparkle from your tired eyes, You with aroma that offends even flies.

Was it a lover who wronged you to cause such pain, Or a goal you set, but could never attain? Have you no recollection of the good times you had, Or do those memories only make you sad?

Surely, you have concerned family somewhere, Kin who realize there’s no safe haven out there. Do you have a place where you can rest for a while? If I told you a joke, would you even smile?

Was this your design for a grand vocation?
Look back if you can, recall the progression Sloth—parasite—self-imposed sedation. And now, there’s nothing left—only decay, As you stand idle, like a smokeless chimney.

The more affluent throw things in their trash, Which you later defend, calling it your stash. Is this how you survive when working the streets, Dealing with harassment, surrounded by cheats?

You go to sleep late, Then make sure you’re up early.
Enjoy the liberty, but beware the price. It's not always fun, being left to one's own device.

Since being doomed to never walk with a bounce, How long before you lack strength to find sustenance? With purpose lost, it must be hard to trudge along, Or appreciate the comrade as he belts out a song.

Oh, how long the day, Getting through it such a feat. Answer me this, How much longer can you last Out in the street?

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The Reader's recent article about the homeless people in downtown San Diego, revived my sincere concern for their health and safety. Especially with the cold nights we have been experiencing lately. I like so many others would like to do something more viable for them, but when face to face with these individuals, I feel intimated not only by their appearance but I wonder about their sanity. Since each has walked a separate path, each must have a unique problem. I wrote the following poem in hopes that others might understand my thoughts.

                Outinda Street

Who are you out roaming the streets, The one without spirit, but not sore feet?
Gone is the sparkle from your tired eyes, You with aroma that offends even flies.

Was it a lover who wronged you to cause such pain, Or a goal you set, but could never attain? Have you no recollection of the good times you had, Or do those memories only make you sad?

Surely, you have concerned family somewhere, Kin who realize there’s no safe haven out there. Do you have a place where you can rest for a while? If I told you a joke, would you even smile?

Was this your design for a grand vocation?
Look back if you can, recall the progression Sloth—parasite—self-imposed sedation. And now, there’s nothing left—only decay, As you stand idle, like a smokeless chimney.

The more affluent throw things in their trash, Which you later defend, calling it your stash. Is this how you survive when working the streets, Dealing with harassment, surrounded by cheats?

You go to sleep late, Then make sure you’re up early.
Enjoy the liberty, but beware the price. It's not always fun, being left to one's own device.

Since being doomed to never walk with a bounce, How long before you lack strength to find sustenance? With purpose lost, it must be hard to trudge along, Or appreciate the comrade as he belts out a song.

Oh, how long the day, Getting through it such a feat. Answer me this, How much longer can you last Out in the street?

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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