Seasonal Exodus.- A Poem of the Streets and Homelessness.

With the warmer nights
the great exodus beings,
as the braver souls
come out of Shelters
seeking peace from noises,
and places violence free
to spend a night
under the starry skies
amid Spring's welcome return.

Each spring it happens
and not as stated,
but driven by beds
reduced to certain populations
as they try consolidating
the folks to places
where the services are
more easily accessed daily,
shunting some to streets.

Not all are troubled,
not all seek crime.
While many do bring
the substance abuse problems
with them each night,
a few are refugees
from the troubled areas
surrounding the homeless shelters,
wanting a hidey-hole.

We who dared elements
during the Winter's duration
now find our places
pushed by varying folks.
Some we might tolerate
if they just asked
instead of invading camps
demanding we let them
take them over now.

So it will go,
the war of vagabonds,
as the summer arrives
it will get worse.
All we can do
is hold the line
and pray the worst
head some place else
besides our sleeping places.

Some we welcome returning,
Drifters passing back by
who we know well,
or those weather forced
into the shelters warmth
due to health issues,
or just the weariness
the streets grind us
with each passing day.

Myself, I will resign
myself to hearing snores
as two per camp
means one more chance
to hear the approach
of evil intended feet
sneaking up to steal
your gear to fund
a drug addict's binge.

So, good-bye sound sleep,
it's been somewhat nice,
but the season changed
when you slept in,
and now the lurkers
will wander about town
seeking new, fresh prey
or old familiar faces
to hunt each night.

7April2014 - Dyfedd Rex