Thursday, February 21, 2013

Thursday Thoughts - On Curing Homelessness

A Swede Strategy
by Rachel Hoyt
 
image by Mantas Ruzveltas via freedigitalphotos.net
 
 
Removing park benches is just so last year,
Demanding proof of need makes some live in fear,
But creating a commercial need for their spots?
Some crazy Swede thinks it's a win for both lots.
 
They hope to convince the hostel loving crowd,
That they aren't really living their lives out loud -
Abandoned warehouses and sports stadiums,
Are the place to stay if one's dreading doldrums.
 
Bravo Swede Shack Pimp, you ground grabber you -
Now everything costs the way it's supposed to,
No sacred spot's safe from capitalist goons,
Taking while teaching we savage buffoons.
 
© 2013 Rachel Hoyt. All rights reserved.
 
I don't believe there's a cure for homelessness
but the Swedes seem to think they've figured out this mess.
 
Technorati Tags: Homeless, Hotel, Camping, Rhyme, Poetry


 
Read more rhymes by Rachel at her column, Clickety Clack -
poetic news about Santa Barbarians talking back.

6 comments:

  1. what the heck....$16 A NIGHT...just go lay on the hard ground...we will commercialize anything...ugh

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    1. This whole thing just boggles my mind, especially considering it is coming from a country which usually does things I admire like save billions of watts of energy. :o/

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  2. I'm befuttled! Is there such a word? My brother recently died on his favorite bench and all who passed him thought he was asleep. Not until it's one of one's own do we have empathy. A mother somewhere once gave him or her birth. Love was present, if not just for the moment of conception.

    Some tears go unrecognized

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    1. Exactly! This is why it is so sad. They say they want people to see what it's like and develop empathy and appreciation, but at what cost?!

      I'm so sorry to hear about your brother, nene.

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  3. Sigh. Ummm, high marks for out of the box thinking? Except what were they thinking?! I read an article once about a reporter who had interviewed many homeless people and while (especially in this recession) there are many exceptions, it was a life choice. They had families that wanted to help, tried to help, but the homeless had a pride in their life, they liked living "Free". Cue--Janis Joplin -"Bobby McGee".

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    1. I have read a lot about these anti establishment, live off of the world's trash type people and I actually admire them a little. They seem to live pretty honest lives - not stealing things that we value to survive. It certainly would be strange if it grew large though... it doesn't seem like a very clean lifestyle to me... lots of germs. :o/

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Rhyming or not, I would like a lot to hear the thoughts my words brought...