Do You Know Him Poem by Patricia Sampson

　

Do you know him

　

Looking 30 years beyond his age

Not a hope of ever collecting a wage

Matted hair and dirty skin

More hair sprouting from his chin

　

His cloths all torn with a pungent smell

Where to next? , who can tell

He treads the road day by day

Looking for yet, another place to stay



Another night, another fix

Another time, maybe at five maybe six

He only needs to get the cash

Houses by house he checks the window sash

　

Shaking, trembling, he needs it now

This will be the last I hear him vow

Just one more house is all I need

To buy the dope on which I feed

　

He sees a car brush passed his heel

A woman at the steering wheel

He reads her eyes and studies her face

He's not my son, He's a disgrace

　

He watched as the car drove away

The envy of most I have to say

Towards the car he reached out his hand

Help me Mother, you just don't understand


The car just sped along the way

She really had no plans to stay

Clear cut diamonds and designer attire

He was no longer what she would desire

　

He has now found a place to stay

Linked at the wrists by a metal array

Sits alone in a room to stare at the wall

who comes to visit, ? no one at all, ! !