Lost - all direction, all purpose, all pride.

Aspirations, ambitions all fled.

Inertia, depression, weakness and fear

Defeat them and stand in their stead.

Dreaming improbable prizes and dreams,

Beseeching a "ship to come in."

Uncov'ring the future with dreadful dismay,

Where old, cold companions still grin.

Companions of loneliness, hunger and need

Chasing and chilling all hope.

Dismissing a God who is deaf to their pain

And left them too wasted to cope.

Pissed on and preyed on, ignored and deprived,

Locked out - out of sight, out of mind.

Except, now and then, to dismantle our shame

We're christmasy helpful and kind.

Then back to the alleys and gutters they go,

Full of Holiday cheer - and despair.

Wond'ring, now that our conscience is soothed

And assuaged, do we care - really care?






Copyright © 1992 by Gerry Edwards