The Shelter, by Marjan Sierhuis

1/12/2019

There is a chill in the night air as shoppers rush along a snow-covered sidewalk. Arms laden with holiday gifts, they avoid eye contact with the elderly man. Joints crippled with arthritis and eyes filled with despair, he pushes a metal cart spilling over with all his worldly possessions. An ill-fitting coat covers his gaunt frame while a toque covers a gash in his forehead.

A cardboard shelter behind a coffee shop awaits his arrival moments later. Away from prying eyes, he regains some dignity and composure after he crawls inside.

Jim link

1/12/2019 10:22:15 pm

This is vividly descriptive and a tug at the heartstrings of humanity, as it rings only too true these days (and many past, sadly). Nicely done.
Jim

marjan sierhuis

2/12/2019 10:14:28 pm

Thank you Jim for taking the time to read and comment. Living in a large metropolitan city, I see this far too often. Yes, it is very sad with no easy fix.

Jim link

2/12/2019 10:45:13 pm

Sadly, this has become the "norm" in even some of the smaller communities. We tend to group these folks in as mostly "addicts" of one sort or another, but the sad truth is that there are so many circumstances to each one of their broken lives. Mental health, lost jobs, lost lives, it just goes on and on. I think we all hope Santa will one day figure out something out up in his workshop, but really, we need to open our hearts as a society and make this better.
Thanks
Jim

marjan sierhuis

3/12/2019 01:37:41 pm

Thank you again, Jim for your insightful comments and your compassion. There is no easy fix. But it is certainly a matter that needs serious consideration.

Happy Holidays.

Comments are closed.

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