Nobody talkin' bout the PoorMan
but man, what else is new
with what he wants and what he needs
there ain't nothing you can do
you can give him plenty of money
a new haircut too
put his ass in a brand new suit
but you still ain't got a clue
he ain't like me and you cuz'
in his head he's insane
wouldn't stay in the Hilton Hotel
rather stand out in the rain
rather beg for money
and dig through people's trash
find some cans in the local dump
and make some spending cash
he don't need no 9 to 5
that's for straights and fools
he's got to be his own boss
and live by his own set of rules
perhaps he is a hero
maybe a Iraqi Vet
maybe he died in Vietnam
and they ain't buried him yet
In this world there's rich men
I hear there's a middle class
then you have the sorta poor
where most of us amass
these poor have rental houses
a clunker car or two
livin' life week to week
and every bill they got is due
then you have the PoorMan
that ain't quite right in da' head
you hand them a little change
and look away in dread
they sleep where they lay their heads
anywhere they at is good
they don't need no comfy double bed
wouldn't sleep there if they could
don't feel so sorry for these poor souls
don't pity what you don't understand
don't treat them like lepers either, man
just help them when you can
we all got our crosses to bear
just listen to the news
but his ain't like yours or mine, brother
he got the PoorMan Blues
* Patients with schizophrenia were 2.4 times more likely, and those with bipolar disorder 1.6 times more likely to be homeless than those with major depression. Substance users were more than 4 times as likely to be homeless as non-users. Homelessness was twice as common among patients lacking MediCal insurance compared to MediCal beneficiaries.
** see http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2004/04_01_Jeste.html
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Alii
Steel Breeze
Eljekar
beauty1947
hilarad
Lisa Tibbitts
Salon.com
Comments
HUGGGGGGGGGG
This is great friend. You keep knocking these out....
Z, that's why I wrote this. You have plenty of poor people, but I was in a car with my mom the other day, when she saw a man dumpster diving and said, "Look at that PoorMan". There's a lot of difference between an poor man and a PoorMan!
Thanks Jon~
Linda, my voice is horrible, hah! I sound like two cats fighting~
D, the politicians can't even get together and divvy-up trillions of dollars. How sad is that? When is the last time you even heard a politician mention the mentally ill or imbalanced? Never!
"just listen to the news/but his ain't like yours or mine"
Two very powerful insights in a poem filled with insight--felt insight. You are an accomplished poet, Scanner.
Jerry, thanks. I don't know about accomplished, but I'm OK I guess!
Susie, thank you. I wanted to say something, and not drum it over everyone's head, as I'm prone to do!
Joisey Shore, I can't believe it. Thank you!
Mr. Cputure, thank you for stopping by~
mhold~I hope you know, the feeling is mutual~~
don't feel so sorry for these poor souls
don't pity what you don't understand
don't treat them like lepers either, man
just help them when you can
Seriously, these words would be slammin' set to music. Did you ever think about it? I'll bet you play the guitar.
Lezlie
Even when it's so hard you make it look easy, scanner.
maybe he died in Vietnam
and they ain't buried him yet!
Great writing, absolutely fantastic!!!!!
R
This cuts through to the core.
Walter, thanks my man, that means a lot!
TME, thank you and tell Burner I said Hello!
Matt, me and you bruta'. The ScanMan and the ChickenMan, Whoooaa~Singin' the Blues~
L. I played a little when I was young, but that was then...,
catch-22, thanks my man!
lschmoopie, thanks. Who's yserba?
Bob, ten years of wars, men doing, 6,7, 8 even 9 tours of duty. It would drive anyone insane. This is unreal!
limb, thank you. That is a great compliment!
Tor, that is "scary" coincidence. I couldn't get that out of my head for some reason!
Steve, thanks a lot my man~
Chuck, I can imagine the people you have talked to. It must of had an effect of you to pal!
♥R
Okay, one day they might be lyrics?
Indeed, the mentally ill are everywhere-- one homeless mentally ill fellow almost burned down our town last summer...he did burn down 8 houses, "just trying to keep warm"...but it was 90 degrees when he started it.
He'd been in and out of facilities for years, but didn't want to be there.
He wanted to live outside which I do appreciate, but...it's a struggle, what to do to "help."
Leon: That is exactly what bites me about John Edwards.
He was the only one speaking up for the poor, the homeless.
How could I have missed that ego under that hair, there in the beginning???
Their time will come - it always has in the past. There is no reason to think it won't in the future - perhaps the very near future......
ᴼᴥƪ
.
Some powerful stuff Scanner... Brought tears to my eyes.. this is a tale right out of my family.... thanks for making me go there and remember...
Rated - with thanks...
"maybe he died in Vietnam and they ain't buried him yet".
This was such a good poem Scanner. you have a way of getting right down to the nitty gritty. Wonderful.
perhaps he is a hero
maybe a Iraqi Vet
maybe he died in Vietnam
and they ain't buried him yet
Bravo! Encore!
Given the economic state and all its cutbacks is this the anthem of the future?
Regards,
M.C.S.
and they ain't buried him yet"
is the best line I've read in a long time.
Can you sing?
Not a coincidence.
I don't sing. I play. Let me know.
http://open.salon.com/blog/sb4justice/2011/07/11/11th_circuit_court_of_appeals_incorrect_affirmed_decision
THE MINORITY, POOR, & THE DISABLED ARE HAVING THEIR RIGHTS VIOLATED IN GEORGIA, ITS LIKE JIM CROW 2011