Fair-weather tramps are these,
Rarely seen in cold or wet or breeze.
I wonder where they go on days
When snow around our ankles plays?
I like to think them nice and warm
Not enduring life's rain or storm,
Nor lying on some frozen bench
Like an impoverished homeless "mensch"
But living comfy in their homes
With parents who are Zürich's gnomes.
Mutti fussing round their food
Und moustachioed Vati in fine mood.
But then, the matter of their doggies
Zürich gnomes don't have such moggies.
Mutti walks a dog of class
To demonstrate good Vati's brass
So back to undetermined dogs on strings
I wonder where they find such things
And what becomes of them on days
That snow around our ankles plays?
Open link monday at Imaginary garden with real toads http://withrealtoads.blogspot.ca
Sharing with dverse open link night
http://dversepoets.com
shelter - so taken for granted, yet precious ~
ReplyDeleteYes, absolutely
DeleteI too would like to imagine they are comfy in their homes...great write
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie
DeleteI think they have homes, maybe not as comfy as in my poem.
Ciao
Pea
That would be an unimaginably difficult reality indeed
ReplyDeleteIt would be absolutely horrid.
DeleteA basic need for which everyone is entitled to. Sadly there are large numbers who are so deprived. A reality of the times. Nicely Pea!
ReplyDeleteHank
Hank, we are truly blessed over here, I don't think I've ever seen a real homeless person in Zürich.
DeleteI live in the Sonora Desert in the American Southwest. Weather is mild in winter, so we have a fair number of homeless living in parks and dry river beds. I feel terribly for them with summer's heat descends.
ReplyDeleteMy son might be in your area (well I know it's huge, but ...) in the not so distant future. He is going to visit a friend from school who is at university in Tucson.
DeleteFair weather tramps still do it tough. Weather has a nasty habit of changing without notice.
ReplyDeleteIndeed so Gemma, but I think these ones have homes to go to.
Deletei just wrote a poem today about where the homeless might go in this weather...its a hard life to be on the street in the winter...def not a fad that will catch...at least not in bad weather...
ReplyDeletethanks for linking at dverse as well...
I shall have a read. Although, doing too many thing I linked the wrong thing. Nevermind, I shall save it for another time.
DeleteI wonder this about fair weather bikers! Where do they go, they who clog the bike lanes in the summer are suddenly absent in the winter!
ReplyDeleteI used to be angry with them but now I hope they are warm and comfy!
Oh I am a biker, but I'm stuck at home with a broken Achilles tendon, maybe some of them are like me, or they are out on the slopes, clogging up the ski lanes on their snow boards. Don't get me started!
Deletehey... just wondering..are you from zürich or somewhere close...i don't live far from there... and in zürich you surely have a vast variety of people... once read a book... the kids from zürichberg.... your poem reminded me of this...
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia, yes I am london/Irish living close to Zürich
Deletehow cool is that... i live close to basel.. i'm german though...smiles
DeleteAlmost neighbours! I had a feeling you weren't so far away, but I had thought maybe French, round Colmar.
DeleteI forgot to say, I'd love to know which book you read about Zürichberg kids. My kids went to school with a few families living up on the Berg. It's lovely there.
DeleteMaybe the liberal squatting laws in the city mean they at least have a roof over their heads? Interesting observations...
ReplyDeleteMy son was telling me about the social funds they are given and it struck me that they were very lucky for tramps. But then we are very lucky in Zürich, we don't see much poverty.
DeleteI wrote a poem today on a similar theme...I do wonder how some survive the coldest days of winter. Much easier when life is green!
ReplyDeleteMary, life is always better when it's green. I'm freezing and I've cranked the heating right up. I bet the tramps are home drinking hot chocolate with their mums. Do you know what, that sounds like a plan, I shall do the same.
DeleteCool... hope you can meet with Claudia... you could imagine that tramps would be for fair weather only... those dreaded days of cold they should be inside.. cool rhythm in this pea
ReplyDeleteThanks Björn. Maybe Claudia and I can meet up, you never know. Although I am going nowhere at the moment as I can't walk. (Achilles problem).
DeleteVery thought provoking! An excellent read thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by Sean.
DeleteExtreme temperatures are indeed hard on the homeless and it makes you wonder how they can survive!
ReplyDeleteNow you mention it, I wonder what the figures are!
DeleteA nice and whimsical take off on tramps in bad weather.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kindness Colleen.
DeleteThis is sophisticated poetry writing. Refreshing!
ReplyDeleteEmmett, how kind of y you to say so.
DeleteThanks
Well written Pea, you illustrate the plight of the homeless so well and I agree it would not be a great place to be living homeless in the winter.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael
DeleteI would hate it
Ciao
Pea
A cool poem!
ReplyDeleteAyala, quite literally cool! Cheers
DeletePea
Winter is brutal for those who call the streets their home..I hope they find a warm place on days like these.
ReplyDeleteOh they will, if nowhere else the car parks are so lovely and warm.
DeleteReally liked this Pea -- reminds me of Cleveland where I grew up, there were the homeless who were addicts or insane, and then the others.
ReplyDeleteI must get my map out and see where Cleveland is. I think it's the same the world over.
DeleteAs Bjorn says, cool rhythm and rhyme.. I'd like to know where they go.. here in the states we have shelters, though with not enough room for all who need shelter. Even when the weather is fine I wonder where they go.. I like that your poem makes us think.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI love all the rhyming and the cool imaginary you shared! I enjoyed your poem and look forward to visiting you again~ Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteThank Ella, I feel for these guys. I'm indoors snd totally frozen!
DeleteIt must be really tough for them in extreme weather.
ReplyDeleteAmrit, it must surely be tough!
DeleteExcellently done. You make us count our blessings.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anthony, those of us with cosy homes should definitely count our blessings.
Deleteif we think of where the humans go to be safe and warm, we rarely seem to consider the animals!
ReplyDeleteHow true!
Deletethought provoking poem...the homeless in America live such a harsh life and so many are mentally ill, in need of medical care...it is a shameful situation.
ReplyDeleteRonald, I don't think the problem is so bad here, But In My Home Country, The UK they definitely have that problem. But mental health services are too often the cinderellas of the health services.
DeleteLooking out my window at nearly a foot of snow. It is my understanding that there are some who can't find/afford housing for typically financial reasons, and then another population that refuses it. I think I remember a news item that said they round the unwilling into police vans and take the to safety for their own good. What do you do with individuals who demonstrate that they want to live on the streets? It's a difficult triangle involving the rights of the community, the state, and the individual. How do you accommodate the individual who, for whatever reason, refuses intervention.
ReplyDeleteThe work is great. I like the reprise at the end.
Gosh Todd, it's hard to imagine people choosing to live like this. But you are right, what do you do?
DeleteHere we have shelter homes or warming centres to keep the homeless comfortable ~ But I am hopeful some will eventually find homes specially in this cold winter nights ~
ReplyDeleteAt least you have some provision for them.
DeleteI hope all who have no homes find shelter on such cold days. Actually, i wish everyone had shelter every day.
ReplyDeleteMyrna, I second that motion.
DeleteA sad comment on our priorities.
ReplyDeleteSam, there are some things the majority of us either doesn't see our doesn't want to think about, tramps are in this category. But these guys, I'm pretty sure have homes.
DeleteTrue - when we have the comfort and warmth of home and food, then I can't imagine how difficult it must be for them who don't have a shelter - a thought provoking one.
ReplyDeleteAbhra, I'm grateful I don't live like this.
DeleteHow sad it is for those who are deprived of the basic necessity of shelter. You picture such a beautifully imagined world where they are all comfy in their homes... I loved your rhymes especially.
ReplyDelete-HA
I think they they have homes, Maybe not so comfy though.
DeleteLove the flow of this poem. So sad to know the homeless are not sheltered from the elements of a cold winter. I really like the photo you chose.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda. At least we've not had a terrible winter.
DeleteThis is lovely. And a good reminder that poverty knows no season. Thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny. Bless em, this lot do disappear in the cold
DeleteI have wondered that, too, especially on days like these when it is biting cold outside. may they have shelter and warmth, wherever they are! Nice use of form, too.
ReplyDeleteJoanna, I second that
Delete