Occasional Poetry - 70. Forgotten: a Villanelle

Your visual image is exactly the one I had in mind, at least at first. It seems there are so many grey persons and grey things in life - inconvenient to recognize and deal with. That is the shame and pity of it. Thanks for reading this, and for commenting. 

been there, felt that, there was no tshirt because that would mean someone noticed.  beautiful Parker  xo

It's wonderful and sobering how you take a mediaeval form used for humour and love, and instead focus it on an ever present facet of our society. One which is definitely on the increase this side of the pond.

21 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

been there, felt that, there was no tshirt because that would mean someone noticed.  beautiful Parker  xo

Thank you, tim. This one gnawed at my heart for a long time. 

It's not an easy form to write in, but it seemed naturally to flow into this tone and subject. 

3 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

 

Thank you, tim. This one gnawed at my heart for a long time. 

Why? .. not because of me i hope ... never worry about that Parker. I may see it from my perspective, say how something felt when i was in that place, but you won't hurt me. 

3 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

It's not an easy form to write in, but it seemed naturally to flow into this tone and subject. 

feels very natural .. worked perfectly.

53 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

Why? .. not because of me i hope ... never worry about that Parker. I may see it from my perspective, say how something felt when i was in that place, but you won't hurt me. 

No, not because of you, my friend. It came from a careless remark an acquaintance made in conversation, and then it took shape slowly after that. What got to me was how easy it was for this person to ignore, push away, forget...

41 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

This was compelling, Parker. Poetry is meant to make us feel and think. You achieved that goal. 

Thank you. Your words mean a great deal to me. 

12 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

 

No, not because of you, my friend. It came from a careless remark an acquaintance made in conversation, and then it took shape slowly after that. What got to me was how easy it was for this person to ignore, push away, forget...

good im glad .. but you're right what makes us uneasy is easy to dismiss  .. but.. we were out walking yesterday, in downtown.. in a section of town where the homeless and boardinghouse residents are being pushed out by the gentrification of that neighbourhood. What do we do with these poor people? How do we lift them up, along with the rest?  Not an easy question and one with no easy answers. 

You're absolutely right. There are studies and models and plans, but the real problem is how to lift up real people. You put it really well. 

4 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

You're absolutely right. There are studies and models and plans, but the real problem is how to lift up real people. You put it really well. 

Thanks and one more thing.. two? LOL.. sorry to barge in to your thread here... you poem should be poster sized and hung in every, planning department and mayor's office...imo. 

I can not see you sitting there worn and beaten ... you are not my concern let someone else lift you up ... just keep walking don't look down ... it 's just some punk ... I can not see you sitting there ... if I don't take the time to look.

Once on a trip to NYC one of the downtrodden called out to me ... I told him "no" ... again he called out and I said "No" ... a third time he spoke and in anger I turned and I said "NO!" I have not been able to forget that. I was frightened and repulsed but he done no more than ask my help. He certainly looked to need it but I said ... "no". What manner of man through fear can turn away from another in need? I try not to be the person any more ...

Thank you for your words. Namaste.

4 minutes ago, dughlas said:

I can not see you sitting there worn and beaten ... you are not my concern let someone else lift you up ... just keep walking don't look down ... it 's just some punk ... I can not see you sitting there ... if I don't take the time to look.

Once on a trip to NYC one of the downtrodden called out to me ... I told him "no" ... again he called out and I said "No" ... a third time he spoke and in anger I turned and I said "NO!" I have carried not been able to forget that. I was frightened and repulsed but he done no more than ask my help. He currently looked to need it but I said ... "no". What manner of man through fear can turn away from another in need? I try not to be the person any more ...

Thank you for your words. Namaste.

Awww dugh .. don't. You are not that person ... and the other thing is not everyone out there is who you think they are.  I knew a guy, dressed like he had nothing... but he knew what he was doing... i caught him once.. he had more money than i'd ever seen in his wallet. And a nice wallet too.  He was a scammer. There are better ways than handing out money.. especially now when scamming is such a good screw. 

I feel it's stark, and meant to be. IMO the form you chose is part of that confrontation and works really well. 

With verse like this you remind us that poetry should be about forging connections, for you make others 'see' what they ignore through self-interest or a false sense of being better. 

Thanks for posting this. 

39 minutes ago, MacGreg said:

First of all, I had to look up Villanelle. Thank you for enlarging my concept of poetry. Secondly, this particular subject matter speaks to me. One, because I was that homeless person for a time in my life, and two, because, where I live, the gentrification has become so prevalent so rapidly, that whole families are being displaced, and there is no plan in place to rectify it. Affordable housing is non-existent. And yet, people get pissed to see panhandlers perched at every stoplight, on every street corner. They feel it makes the city unsafe and "dirty". Tents and makeshift dwellings are constantly torn down. I myself have witnessed policemen (given orders by the city) confiscating blankets and sleeping bags away from people outside of a soup kitchen to deter them from sleeping on the sidewalk.

 

I started volunteering with a home-building non-profit that helps put low-income families into affordable housing. It's a small contribution of my time that hopefully makes a difference, at least to some. I will also add that the tremendous lack of mental health resources for so many people in need is deplorable. Can every homeless person just get up and walk into a McDonald's and get a job? No. Yet, it's assumed they can. Mental illness is a huge barrier, and if people are falling through the cracks of the health care system, they are ultimately forgotten. People would rather see them disappear quietly than have to deal.

 

Anyway, your poem is brilliant and really got me thinking this morning. Thank you for that, Parker.

You are so right. It's the same here and mental illness is a big thing too. After closing hospitals and homes because of the expense, they moved into boardinghouses that are now being closed. There is talk of using our back lanes and building upwards, pulling down garages and building smaller dwellings there.. great but still.. more needs to be done to help people contribute because everyone wants to I think. I know of a Tim's franchise owner who will hire disabled people because he thinks it's the right thing to do... we could use a few more of those.  And as an ex-sex worker.. maybe it's time we made that legal too..

2 hours ago, dughlas said:

I can not see you sitting there worn and beaten ... you are not my concern let someone else lift you up ... just keep walking don't look down ... it 's just some punk ... I can not see you sitting there ... if I don't take the time to look.

Once on a trip to NYC one of the downtrodden called out to me ... I told him "no" ... again he called out and I said "No" ... a third time he spoke and in anger I turned and I said "NO!" I have not been able to forget that. I was frightened and repulsed but he done no more than ask my help. He certainly looked to need it but I said ... "no". What manner of man through fear can turn away from another in need? I try not to be the person any more ...

Thank you for your words. Namaste.

I echo tim ( @Mikiesboy ) in saying I do not believe you are that man. Fear twists our better selves, and it has surely happened to me. My hope is that if everyone fears a little less and steps forward a little more, then fewer will go hungry and cold and unloved. 

2 hours ago, Mikiesboy said:

Thanks and one more thing.. two? LOL.. sorry to barge in to your thread here... you poem should be poster sized and hung in every, planning department and mayor's office...imo. 

You have no idea how glad I am that this poem struck a chord - perhaps in a minor key, but loud enough. I have an old friend who is a professional city planner out west. I'll send this to him!

Just now, Parker Owens said:

 

You have no idea how glad I am that this poem struck a chord - perhaps in a minor key, but loud enough. I have an old friend who is a professional city planner out west. I'll send this to him!

You said we could rant .. we took you at your word.  Your poem did more though, but that i sent you in an email.  Yes, do send it.. it's wonderful.. i think i know a teacher who should put it on his door, too. 

2 hours ago, MacGreg said:

First of all, I had to look up Villanelle. Thank you for enlarging my concept of poetry. Secondly, this particular subject matter speaks to me. One, because I was that homeless person for a time in my life, and two, because, where I live, the gentrification has become so prevalent so rapidly, that whole families are being displaced, and there is no plan in place to rectify it. Affordable housing is non-existent. And yet, people get pissed to see panhandlers perched at every stoplight, on every street corner. They feel it makes the city unsafe and "dirty". Tents and makeshift dwellings are constantly torn down. I myself have witnessed policemen (given orders by the city) confiscating blankets and sleeping bags away from people outside of a soup kitchen to deter them from sleeping on the sidewalk.

 

I started volunteering with a home-building non-profit that helps put low-income families into affordable housing. It's a small contribution of my time that hopefully makes a difference, at least to some. I will also add that the tremendous lack of mental health resources for so many people in need is deplorable. Can every homeless person just get up and walk into a McDonald's and get a job? No. Yet, it's assumed they can. Mental illness is a huge barrier, and if people are falling through the cracks of the health care system, they are ultimately forgotten. People would rather see them disappear quietly than have to deal.

 

Anyway, your poem is brilliant and really got me thinking this morning. Thank you for that, Parker.

I read and re-read your comment. So much to say, and I will try to be quick.  Hereabouts the state is trying to close a a mental health facility for teens and young people which they want to merge  with a large mental health hospital for adults. It might save money, but it probably isn't good for the kids. Saving money is not always the best thing for government to do. What is rational in a planning meeting is not necessarily rational for an individual. Your work in building homes is inspirational, and it makes me wish I could handle power tools without fear.

1 hour ago, AC Benus said:

I feel it's stark, and meant to be. IMO the form you chose is part of that confrontation and works really well. 

 

With verse like this you remind us that poetry should be about forging connections, for you make others 'see' what they ignore through self-interest or a false sense of being better. 

 

Thanks for posting this. 

Thank you for what you said. The repetition of the lines of the final couplet really help drive the rest deep into the mind. This poem reminded me of why kings both admired and feared poets in bygone ages. 

Forgotten... Life goes on around you!