Lost Soul
He shuffled by, jeans grazing the sidewalk
I caught a whiff of
part bottle of cheap wine,
part bloody confrontation from
last night, carved on his cheek
As his garbage-bag suitcase thumped behind,
he spat in the gutter.
DTs setting in, he twitched
in a crooked gait, a gurgle
singing from deep in his gut.
Before I could stop him to offer a breakfast,
he vanished through a paint-shredded doorway.
My mom would’ve said,
“His porch light’s flickering.”
© Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For The Sunday Whirl (with thanks to Brenda Warren for assembling the Wordle and Mike Patrick for the words): Gutter, flickering, twitched, vanished, crooked, bottle, bloody, gurgle, sidewalk, thump, carved, caught. Also at my poetic touchstone, Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Sharp Little Pencil
ME FIRST! Please know that in the first publishing, I accidentally credited Joseph Harker for the words, when they actually came from a poem by Mike Patrick. Sorry, Mike – and Joseph, I’ll deal with you later – MOO-HA-HAAAAAA!
Mea culpa. Amy
wordsandthoughtspjs
Amy, an interesting tale you have created with the words. Sadly, it has become the lives of many. Feliz Dia de los Muertos!
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
Igualmente, mi amiga… yes, it is sad, but it’s so true. I see it every day in every city I’ve ever lived in. Thanks, Pamelita! Amy
Daydreamertoo
LOL
You are in a high jinx mood today. Have a fun time.
This is so typical of the boys today, thankfully we don’t see ‘too’ many with their jeans butts about to be dragging on the floor. LOL
Sharp Little Pencil
DDT, actually, this was a bit more somber, but if you found fun in it, hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Speaking of boys in their low jeans, some young men have taken to wearing their underwear so far out, their jeans are down to the seam of their “shorts.” At least it beats the tight jeans and the visible “coin slot,” as the Aussies say!! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh, that saying of your mom’s is so apt: “His porch light’s flickering.” That will stay with me.
Sharp Little Pencil
It’s an old expression, common among alcoholics and the mentally ill. I marvel at its simplicity and descriptiveness, but I cannot take credit for the phrase. Friends of Bill W. Thanks, Sherry, Amy
Laurie Kolp
Poor guy…
Sharp Little Pencil
Not much more to say, huh, Laurie? His name is Legion. And Vet. And Somebody’s Son… Amy
Victoria Sullivan Hendricks
I am deeply impressed with your take on the wordle words. The picture of an alcoholic in trouble is very much what the words conjured up for me, but you take it real and dark and make this reader feel the pain. Well done.
Sharp Little Pencil
Victoria, I appreciate your feedback. The Wordle screamed to me about what to write… but I have known so many down-and-outers because of my “fringe” life that the details are as intimate as my mother’s own struggle with alcoholism. Weird to say, but I’m glad you connected with the pain; that is what I was hoping for. Thanks for your empathy. Amy
MiskMask
I was struck by that last phrase, His porch light’s flickering. Such a brilliant phrase to illustrate a condition. Very good work, Amy. Looking forward to the start of November, and hoping that you’ll be taking part in PA’s NosPAD.
Sharp Little Pencil
We are looking toward a cross town move the next month, so I don’t think I will be able to post every single day – plus, Lex is going to Elmira to visit family for a week, while I spend my Thanksgiving week in Chicago with some dear old friends… then we will all meet up. )Family holidays are hard for me, given past family-of-birth mishaps.) But I’ll post often as I can… it’s almost time to start bitching about the commercialization of Christmas!! Fertile ground…! Thanks, Amy
1sojournal
You created an excellent image of the man in decline. The wordle words seem to disappear into his story, which means its good writing. Absolutely love those final lines. She is correct,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/
Sharp Little Pencil
My mom got that expression from her AA meetings, I am pretty sure. It’s used in both addiction and mental health circles. Thanks for your thoughts on the words not sticking out in the story, because that’s a challenge for wordles: I refuse to shoehorn in words for the sake of completing the prompt. Also, thanks for the link, hon. Peace, Elizabeth, Amy
Debbie
Amazing poem . . .paint-shredded doorway . . .and the ending with the porch light flickering . . .just perfect. Thanks Amy, for showing me how it’s done. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, this man is one of hundreds I have encountered, whether seeing them pass or buying them lunch. The “porch light” comes from my mom, who picked up the expression at AA. Love, Amy
pmwanken
Good use of the words, Amy! I especially liked the gurgle from his gut. I thought about something along that line, but couldn’t work it in. In fact, I had a hard time with the words all together…I’d read Mike’s “Singing on Murkle” too many times. I didn’t even have to read Brenda’s note she posted with the wordle — I knew they were his words. To paint a picture different from the Murkle picture was hard. But, nevertheless, I gave it a “whirl.” 😉
Well…here’s my “Hallow’s Eve” post…
http://whenwordsescape.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/hallow%e2%80%99s-eve/
~Paula
Sharp Little Pencil
I’ll hop over to yours, even at this late date! Behind again…. oy. I hadn’t read Mike’s “Murkle,” so that’s a good thing, because I am easily influenced by other poets, especially good ones like you and my other co-conspirators!! (Incidentally, I have been known to gurgle from MY gut when I’m really famished!) Thanks, Paula, Amy
Richard Cody
My porch light flickers some times.
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, babe, I hope not! Amy
Poets United
Cool and gritty poem. This piece is rare and authentic. Enjoyed this on this post Halloween morn.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks… you know I always list y’all with a link on my site as “my poetic touchstone,” “…hearth,” and other descriptions. Can’t imagine a world without you! Love, Amy
Old Ollie
Man you do keep your pencil and your wit sharp. I really admire your style.
Sharp Little Pencil
Ollie, so nice to see you here again, thanks so much! Amy
Rosemary Nissen-Wade aka SnakyPoet
Vivid sketch. I particularly like the finishing observation.
Sharp Little Pencil
As I have told others, that was from my mom and her AA meetings. A common expression for someone off the wagon… Thanks, Rosemary! Peace, Amy
wolfsrosebud
the last line… perfect to capture your character… bravo
Sharp Little Pencil
Patricia, attribute it to my mom, who picked it up at AA meetings. It’s such an apt description, isn’t it, and so sad… Thanks, Amy
chrstine
well done with the word prompts, you set a real and uncomfortable scene for the reader
Sharp Little Pencil
Poetry should soothe; it should also provoke! Thanks for the observation, Christine, peace, Amy
kaykuala
Amy,
Nice of you to highlight the homeless, shuffling his feet in an unsteady gait, drunk on cheap liquor, cut on the cheeks. I can almost picture a guy in oversize clothes with a toothy grin without a care in the world. It is a problem to feed them.
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
I have a couple of friends who are homeless; hell, I’ve been homeless at times back in the day. But it’s the guys who walk around, hat in hand, that break my heart. A lot of them have kids they never see… but when I’m in the cafe, the homeless guys all know they’ll get a muffin and a cup of coffee on me. It’s the least I can do, besides protesting the gov. of Wisconsin’s heartless policies toward the homeless. Thanks, Hank, Amy
gautami tripathy
Loved it!
innards
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Gautami, and thanks also for the link! Amy
booguloo
You always manage to touch the soft spots..
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, Michael, that is a nice comment, thanks. Peace, Amy
Mike
A great poem and a wonderful take on this set of wordle words.
I loved the images portrayed with the words, “his garbage-bag suitcase’
Sharp Little Pencil
I know too many people who carry just that. One guy, I offered him a suitcase on wheels and he looked at me like a guardian angel. “Now I can use the bag for a raincoat!” We live in sad times, and all we can do it extend a hand… Thanks, Mike. Amy
Peggy Goetz
Such a sad portrait. Beautiful word brush here.
Sharp Little Pencil
Peggy, what a wonderful way to describe the process. Thanks so much for stopping by! Peace, Amy
Mary
A universal man. So many of this kind. Nameless but visibile everywhere, sadly.
Sharp Little Pencil
You have that exactly right. Reminds me of the downtrodden men of the Great Depression of the 30s. And there’s only so much coffee I can buy for them (always with about six sugars – I think it keeps their energy up…) You have a big heart, Mary, thanks. Amy
Morning
excellent job on the wordle.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much for stopping by and for the kind words. I’ll stop by your neck of the blogosphere and see what you came up with! Peace, Amy
brenda w
Excellent!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks again for the excellent words, Brenda. It’s probably my favorite prompt every week – you have me hooked on Wordles! Amy
Trifecta
Thanks for linking up, SLP. This is a really sensitive description of the despair of a homeless man, captive to drink. I love your mum’s expression at the end — very apt!
Hope you continue to link up with us here at Trifecta.
Sharp Little Pencil
Just posted to the new prompt. Didn’t have much for the mid-week, so think I’ll stick to the Friday prompt. Discipline! Peace, Amy