Adam Dustus is taking a much needed day off. So I (Leslie Moon) am putting together a photo prompt which I hope makes your creative juices flow.
I was struck with a poem written (by Brian Miller) about homelessness and the responses it evoked. I would have to say that people often skirt the issue of homelessness because they can't understand it. I guess you can't understand it unless you have been there or you make the effort. I was homeless as a young, single woman; I lived in my car. I never felt any different; never wore a placard. I just had no money and no place to live.You learn from life by living it.
Look at these pictures. What do they evoke?
What are the people thinking; what does their day hold?
Please take the picture prompt challenge and share your words by placing a link to your site below.
Thanks to the photographers for their fantastic work in capturing these individuals.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrosimoes7/3148834712/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/3351531204/sizes/m/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wetwebwork/120881153/
Homelessness is a sobering topic - hope the photos give you a view into these three lives.
ReplyDeleteBe thankful for what you have also - we could always have less
Happy Sunday
Moon Smiles
This was a tough one for me to write as i wish it wasn't true... and i know that it shouldn't reflect on everyone - it like saying because your boyfriend cheated on you all men are dogs!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prompt and happy Sunday everyone.
There are so many reasons why we have the homeless people, some have a tough time in these days of the economic downfall. Others are affected with mental problems. And others do it for a living, rather than work at a job, they say they make more money begging. We live in difficult times to deal with lately.
ReplyDeleteCould'nt relate completely to homelessness, but the first pic reminded me of an old poem I had written...of a sense of not belonging.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
Hard topic...
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of a CRUEL REALITY WE TEND TO IGNORE...
Happy Sunday!
Inspired to write. I am not a poet, so I hope you don't mind my little piece.
ReplyDeleteThose photos brought up a lot of memories. Being a homeless family is not something you can ever be proud of. But it something that will change you forever.
great pics moonie and esp this time of year our minds often turn there...i write about the homeless quite often...the forgotten...
ReplyDeleteThis was a great topic to touch upon. It reminded me of the time when it was 90 outside and I was in the mall and saw a homeless person. He was sleeping on one of the benches. I ran into B&N and got him a bottle of water. I thought about the ways I could help him and that was the only way I could come up with. If I gave him money, there is an infinite number of ways he could use it and not all of them are good. If I gave him food, how could I know for a fact he wasn't allergic to anything. So I stuck with the safety of bottled water as it is a neccesity of life. I tried to gentle wake him up by calling out sir quietly. I didnt stand close for fear of my own safety, since I was solo in this adventure. I eventually startled him awake, which I felt badly and apologized for. I handed him the water and he replied with a surprised thank you. I told him to have a good day and left. I was scared out of my wits but I do not regret it.
ReplyDeletea hard hitting subject...one that i hope never to experience but all the same a terrible tragedy for those that find themselves here...cor is right...our perception of a homeless person is first and foremost fear...they frighten us...becuase we are ignorant of the whats, whys & wherefore's......a good feature lelsie...pete
ReplyDeleteA truly inspirational topic. It should never be allowed to happen!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea , Leslie (and thanks to Brian for the inspiration).
ReplyDeletethanks leslie - what an excellent idea!
ReplyDeletei'm in and will start to comment on the others when i'm back from a looooong sunwalk
amazing shots!
ReplyDeleteThis topic is always angst filled.
ReplyDeleteThey will always be with us...and we are always one event away of being they. So in essense we are they as Glynn posted. So what are we(what am I) to do? Something.
I posted the poem I'm offering today back in October. It is in three parts, the second of which is about homelessness.
ReplyDeleteI messed up the description of my own poem. I should have written that I posted it in October of '09 and that it's in four parts. I'm carrying forgetfulness today.
ReplyDeleteI work in a homeless shelter -- first and foremost, the people we serve are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmothers...
ReplyDeletetheir lives are often inexplicable to us, but their humanity never is.
We are afraid because we do not udnerstand -- thank you for bringing understanding, for bringing light to our fellow human beings who live lives most of us cannot imagine.
Linked to a poem I wrote a while back, about the situation of street kids in my city... Thanks!
ReplyDeleteExcellent prompt. For those who visit my site, there's also a very appropriate selection there on the Off the Shelf page written during the Great Depression, from Langston Hughes.
ReplyDeletehttp://versiscape-lifesentences.blogspot.com/p/off-shelf.html
wow. you seem to have struck a cord today moon...
ReplyDeleteHaunting images, prompting more haunting lines begging to be written. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteNot here often but I'm in tonight <3 Trying to chnge the world in our own way! Tonights photo had to be written about xx
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how many people will agree with my poem, but then writing isn't always about popularity. I look forward to some heartfelt poems. I had a chance to read moondustwriters poem, it was wonderful! Have a great Sunday.
ReplyDeletehave read all the linked up poems by now and i'm just amazed about the variety and the heartbeat i can feel - seems a bit like writing and reading each other closer to those people. personally, this has helped me and when i see a homeless person in the streets now, i for sure will think of some of the poems i read today
ReplyDeletebig thanks to all of you and big thanks to moonie!
I tried to place myself in the last photo... did not do a great job of it... Maybe averted my own eyes a bit too much... great topic and truly enjoy the prompting -- thanks Moon!
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ReplyDeletenice job, Leslie. I am in. Happy Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThank you ladies for alerting me that my link wasn't working. I think I fixed it. Anyway, it worked for me, this time.
ReplyDeleteHappy to visit and be here once more. Thank you for bringing this topic to the forefront of our minds, especially at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI am up and posted. Tough topic this week.
ReplyDeleteA song I wrote which might just suit this theme..hopefully :) along with a 'sunday sketch'. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI might be a bit late...but nevertheless...I loved writing a bit about my soul and that that of a friend's-which homeless from within...
ReplyDeleteDo visit my other blog and drop in your thought at the post destination unknown . It too speaks of a homeless person with a brighter mood.
Great idea , Leslie. Linked to a poem.
ReplyDeletehomelessness just one more thing we close our eyes to. We fail to realize it could easily you in that situation at any moment.
ReplyDeletethe issue raised by leslie has touched many and we are overwhelmed with the response...for that reason we shall keep this link up until next sunday and welcome more of you to share your work on this harrowing subject
ReplyDeleteAmazing and poignant photos....truly a national issue, ...and disgrace.
ReplyDeleteI just read that we have spent 700 million dollars overseas to repair mosques. How much have we spent on our homeless citizens...many who are children and vets?
Lady Ny0
Very touching photographs. They move you....
ReplyDeleteIts awesome all of the time to view how folks can compose wonderful stuff about people topics! Thank you and I ve bookmarked you
ReplyDelete