24 July 2009

Opportunities


Philadelphia Alley, Charleston, SC

Nancy Meeks, who works in the Pharmacy at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, happened on this picture deep in my smugmug album. She left this in the comment section.

Opportunities

Who's that soul inside the doorway?
What's he doing there alone?
Is he sleeping. . .waiting. . .crying?
Or just chatting on the phone?

Was he hungry. . .thirsty. . .cold?
Wondering when the sun will shine?
Was he stranger, friend. . . or foe?
Was he hurting? . . . Doing fine?

Did you stop to ask the question,
"S'cuse, me, sir. Are you okay?"
Or did you simply press along?
So many ops. . .so fleeting day. . .


Nancy L. Meek ~ July 11, 2009

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Joan, how sad. Did you find out what was going on? I don't get involved if it is a male. I think that the danger is too great and I leave the inquiring to others. Sorry to say, but it is true.

Charlestonjoan said...

He was a man. I was startled, hadn't seen him initially. I did not disturb him. He didn't make a peep and may have been sleeping.

Anonymous said...

Very poignant. Dave

Nancy Meek said...

Hi, Joan....

Thanks for posting my poem along with your moving photo. Shortly after I composed the poem, I revised it a bit. Here is the latest version. I feel it captures much better what I was trying to convey....

OPPORTUNITIES

Who’s that soul inside the doorway?
What’s he doing there alone?
Is he sleeping… waiting… crying?
Or just chatting on the phone?

Is he hungry… thirsty… cold?
Wondering when the sun will shine?
Is he stranger, friend… or foe?
Is he hurting? Doing fine?

Do you stop to ask the question,
“S’cuse, me, sir. Are you okay?”
Or do you simply press along?
So many ops… so fleeting day…

©Copyright July 11, 2009 by Nancy L. Meek

A copy of your photo appears alongside my poem on the IWVPA (International War Veterans' Poetry Archives), of which I am a member. I hope you like it. Here is the URL:

http://iwvpa.net/meek-nl/zz-opportun.php

Nancy Meek said...

Joan...
The link to the page at the IWVPA containing your pic and my poem has been changed to:
http://iwvpa.net/meeknl/zz-opportun.php