Poems

In the House of the Homeless

1.
 
One window among very many lots of them
reflects events    makes visible the dregs reflecting back
a fraction tied to the structure partly covering it
falling down as well as crumbling with a fight to the finish
 
the world of the homeless so very many
the community of the whole wide world can offer
appear the edge  missing a family  just restored
the house remains cold almost like something else  hardship returns
 
(to) have your roots yanked out from underneath your home tree
to roam about in many times and places
strength leaves you   destitute   charity
reflections overlap  hardship nears
 
one substance in submission  that group of people
one substance in the many incongruities
fallen   left behind     overgrown    neglected   a case
the area shifts and changes    on the move
 
refugees by culture  connection
pressure bows you down   embrace it
until aborted hope collides with strength
dirty salt marks fade away  not concealed entirely
 
dirty salty windows in the middle of the city
live   are   go   strange   lonely    a distorted picture
photograph   name   'ghost'   living
disfigured shadow   criticism surrounds you
 
the house you can't return to   can't find
the hope you depend on    the dream that warms you
'under the expressway''pavement'  have mercy forgive
the whole picture fuses deeply eroding love
 
all assets gone   all ways closed   agreements ended
(you) don't get there  can't go back   in a trap
'public place' packed with poor people
the centre forced into a controlled area with a border
 
refugees by culture   connection
melt into great disorder
'Sanam Luang' trespasses  shifts  changes
expands and grows covering every corner of the city
 
2.
 
look without direction  opposed to the whole wide world
true connected instinct  release
rubbish piles up  old things   lonely waste
really hard up impoverished appears humiliates
 
looks untidy as in  the new house in disorder
(you) dream no further than this 'I want a house'
a road  an alley   a side street looks like a sign
makes apparent protests accustomed eyesight