Al, My Pal …[ Friendship; Homelessness; Luck: Good & Bad ] Poem by Bri Edwards

Al, My Pal …[ Friendship; Homelessness; Luck: Good & Bad ]

Rating: 5.0


Yes, Al was my pal, and much more than that.
I met him when he was ‘down & out', busted flat,
wearing a shabby coat, homeless, and just TOO slim!
I could relate to that, as I'd been about like him.

But I got a lucky break one day, got a job and a home,
but STILL I often felt weary and most of the time ‘alone'.
My boozing dad, a nasty punch, at me, he'd often pitch.
And Mom, also beaten by Dad, was too often a nasty bitch.

At age 16 I quit school and lived often 'on the streets',
using, when I could, clean newspapers for my sheets,
holed up for sleep in a box at an alley's dead end.
I had food I'd beg or steal, but no job, ‘home', OR friend.

Then at 18 I saved a man from drowning at a nearby beach ….
by wading chest deep and tossing him a float he could reach.
Then, as he held tight to the float, I doggy paddled to his side,
and SOMEHOW got him to shore alive; I was filled with pride.

Turns out he managed the city's bus station.As my reward ….
he gave me a job with a small wage and 'room & (partial) board'.
It wasn't much, to most, I know, but to me was like striking gold.
My job: cleaning buses, inside & out, and doing whatever I was told.

I felt I'd reached my pinnacle of success.I KNOW, it wasn't much,
but for two years I'd struggled, living on much, much, MUCH less.

A few months later Al came into my life as, lunch, I was eatin'.
Outside McDonald's I saw Al grab a ‘sandwich' and run, lest he be beaten.
For such a skinny thief, Al sure could run, and
FAST!
I thought: 'Here's one like I was.'I pursued him, and found him at last.

I had a handful of 'fries'.He was sitting down, panting, shaking a bit.
I spoke kindly to him, offered my fries, and down beside him I did sit.
We hit it off from the very start, and from that day we barely parted.
My boss said Al could stay with me, and soon HIS FIRST JOB, too, he started.

Al became a night guard of the idle-buses' secured parking lot.
It was sort of a 'make-work job'.Behind the lot fence he'd patrol…
when he wasn't asleep snoring.Bus vandalism took a dive, AND …
I know Al and I, from then on, felt more and more alive.

On my days off we'd go to the park and do ‘what boys will do'.
We'd play catch, watch ‘the girls', and lie on the grass to view …
kids flying kites, pigeons ‘begging' for food, and lovers strolling by.
Neither of us had a girlfriend …though Al, from time to time, gave it a try.

We lived like that, like brothers [brother-friends] for three years.
But the day came when I was overcome by ‘buckets-full' of tears.

Al was chasing a ball I'd thrown for him to catch and he ran…
into the street, carelessly, right in front of a big brown UPS delivery van.
I doubt he ever saw it coming; I pray he felt no pain at all.
Full of life one minute, then, so suddenly, came, for Al, his final fall.

I raced to his aid but it was no use.The driver
offered an excuse:
'Gee, I'm so sorry young man; I couldn't stop,
you know? POOR dog.'


(October …15th ….2018)

Monday, October 15, 2018
Topic(s) of this poem: abuse,friendship,homelessness,job,luck
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
it is totally fictional in that it does not pertain to me.but of course i've drawn material from life experiences and 'things i've heard about'.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Kostas Lagos 15 October 2018

! You almost made me cry with this one! 10 and more!

0 0 Reply
Kim Barney 04 May 2023

I was going to ask if there was any truth to this, but then I read the poet's note. Very engaging. Once you start reading, it's hard to stop.

0 0 Reply
Bri Edwards 04 May 2023

Thanks, Pal. bri ;)

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Bri Edwards 04 May 2023

A high school friend sent me three poems 'written by' Artificial Intelligence, in the styles of William Shakespeare, Ogden Nash, and me, Bri Edwards. Believe me. ;)

0 0 Reply
Bri Edwards 04 May 2023

Today I'm editing the last line to have space before 'Poor'. It's about time! ! ! : ) bri NOW 'AI' REFERS to Artificial Intelligence for most people.

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Hazel Durham 17 October 2018

An inspirational and thought provoking write so beautifully written and the twist at the end, brilliant!

1 0 Reply
Akhtar Jawad 17 October 2018

A touching poem, much have been inked in it, homelessness, good and bad luck and finally the friendship.

0 0 Reply
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Bri Edwards

Bri Edwards

Earth, i believe
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