a homeless person, image by Myriams-Fotos, on Pixabay
Death of a Homeless
So ravaged by an icy wind
Beneath a black, indifferent sky,
A homeless soul the night has pinned,
Weighed down inside its cold goodbye.
Revealed when first the morning breaks:
A casualty of human scorn
And poverty its victory takes,
Although in God’s own image born.
Poor, luckless one whose last tear froze
The awful hour their last dream died.
A pauper’s pit their last repose—
Now with the angels they shall ride.
Then slip the bonds of needle hell,
Slide past where bottle slaves are poured.
And schizophrenia farewell,
Whose crosses raise us to our Lord.
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Peggy Everett is a blind poet, dedicated
Catholic, and lifelong social activist. She
has been published in A Catholic Circle,
the St. Austin Review, the Catholic Poetry
Reading Room, and many other journals.
She lives in the rural Pacific Northwest with
her husband, where they run a small charity
for poor pets' essential needs.