Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

He Sleeps in a Box

He Sleeps in a Box

 

I know a man who suffers from PTSD

an ex serviceman damaged for life

He sleeps in a cardboard box

in the doorway of a shop in the High Street

 

Should there be a deal or no deal Brexit

politicians debate endlessly without result

I know a man who sleeps in a cardboard box

in the doorway of a shop in the High Street

 

Local elections are due later this month

the present council overspent by millions

I know a man who sleeps in a cardboard box

in the doorway of a shop in the High Street

 

The nation can now boast two new aircraft carriers

with nuclear submarines to be overhauled

I know a man who sleeps in a cardboard box

in the doorway of a shop in the High Street

 

Inflation has fallen and the pound is stable

council tax could soon be increased

I know a man who sleeps in a cardboard box

in the doorway of a shop in the High Street

 

An airline has fallen into the red

priests now guilty of sexually abusing nuns

I know a man who sleeps in a cardboard box

in the doorway of a shop in the High Street

 

The Duchess of Sussex has spent 500,000 on clothes

President Trump demands a wall with Mexico

I know a man who sleeps in a cardboard box

in the doorway of a shop in the High Street

◄ A Large Wooden Door

The Purge of Victory ►

Comments

Profile image

keith jeffries

Mon 18th Feb 2019 11:59

Don and Jon,

You are both right. As poets we fight against apathy. As long as we cruise along with ineffective governments and make do decisions the likes of the man in the box will remain there. The inertia and infantile behaviour of present day politics lies at the door of the electorate. I am heartily sick of complaining and then see that fellow complainers do nothing but retire to their comfort zones. Is a two party state really representative of true democracy?

Thank you for your interest.
Keith

Profile image

Don Matthews

Mon 18th Feb 2019 09:45

As poets we can only 'poeticize' on what concern us. We are just voices in the wilderness. Change can only take place with a mass movement and strong leader. Without this the world's priorities will remain screwed up as Jon says. You may think otherwise.

As Kate says the juxtaxposition is powerfully used Keith

Profile image

keith jeffries

Sun 17th Feb 2019 17:51

Thank you all for your comments.

It is interesting to note that the job seekers allowance for those over 24 years per week is higher than we pay our veterans for their pension. A grateful nation?

Keith

Profile image

M.C. Newberry

Sun 17th Feb 2019 15:22

When the Napoleonic wars finally came to an end, the return of out of work service personnel (as we call them nowadays) saw
Parliament enact the Vagrancy Act 1824, due to the perceived
social affront of the existence of the unemployed and the wounded
begging and exposing wounds (an additional legal definition) for
that purpose in the streets and thoroughfares of the country.
Two centuries on, society still grapples with the same sort of
problem and its origins. Are we any better or better equipped to deal
with this? It seems not. Human nature remains firmly in the hands
of what an ex-soldier acquaintance referred to disparagingly as
"Mark One Man" e.g. basic model !!!

Profile image

Jon Stainsby

Sun 17th Feb 2019 14:05

The world's priorities are screwed up.

<Deleted User> (21487)

Sun 17th Feb 2019 13:47

So chilling - no doubt the more self-righteous among us would suggest that 'Our Man' should get himself a job.

We put 'Our Man' on the front line to defend us and then we hid behind him. When he finally broke we abandoned him and found another man to take his place.

My on-line groceries were once delivererd by an ex-soldier who was
affronted by the fact that this was the only job that he could get, He was fit, strong and had an air of authority which was wasted on delivering groceries to little old ladies( my words not his).

<Deleted User> (19913)

Sun 17th Feb 2019 11:57

He and so many others suffering Keith. It's appalling to see such waste in some areas when so many are in need. I like the way you have juxtaposed big issues, with a human story to craft a compelling observation of a society that needs to do better.

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message