Reviews from

Heart Cafted Poems - 2020

Viewing comments for Chapter 55 "Nowhere Land"
Musings of an old man -2020

26 total reviews 
Comment from sammielwf
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JLR,
A commentary poem fit for the first page of Stars and Stripes magazine.
My dad, a Bronze Star vet of WWII would stand and salute you if he were still with us.
I agree that no political party owns this problem- but it will take the citizenry of our entire country to take steps to solve it.
No human being in this nation of plenty should be living in the streets.
No vet should be dishonored in such a way.
Thank you for sharing your talents with our fan site base and for showing us how we can help.
Sammielwf

 Comment Written 02-Nov-2020


reply by the author on 02-Nov-2020
    Sammielwf, I do very much appreciate your validation and we should all be grateful to every man and woman who has serviced, especially your dad! Freedom, is far from FREE there is a real cost. I hope our youth can read history and at some point soon learn this before it is too late for all of us.
reply by sammielwf on 02-Nov-2020
    Thank you JLR.
Comment from Bill Schott
Excellent
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This free verse, Nowhere Land, looks at the problem of homelessness with the emphasis on those have served our nation in war and yet are now allowed to rot in the streets. Homelessness in America is a national shame.

 Comment Written 01-Nov-2020


reply by the author on 02-Nov-2020
    Thanks for your validating comments Bill. Maybe we someday, will once again, be a more moderate and cooperative government at State and Federal levels and get leaders to lead America back onto the right the path in looking at our country more introspectively and less like a blank check for PAC programs that often do not serve the common citizen.
Comment from Patty Palmer
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Wonderful poem! I don't think many people are actually aware of the numbers of homeless we have in our country and how many of them are our own U.S. veterans! There should never allow a veteran to be homeless. They fought for our country so we can be here now to celebrate life together in the freedom we have. Thank you for adding information about homeless veterans.
Patty

 Comment Written 01-Nov-2020


reply by the author on 01-Nov-2020
    Patty, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my poem. We do have a serious problem in America with mental illness and a political disinterest in a fix, if we had journalistic coverage that would sell advertising perhaps there would be interest to address this issue.
Comment from Janice Canerdy
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I really can't even imagine how awful it must be to have no permanent home--to be scared, hungry, cold, . . . And, yes, so many homeless are veterans, so sad. Your poem is very descriptive and heart-wrenching.

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2020


reply by the author on 01-Nov-2020
    Janice, thank you for your sentiments.
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
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Nowhere Land
by JLR

Hello, my friend,

I love this stanza, awesome imagery...

"That rainbow trout practically jumped out of the
river, with trails of water gleaming in the
sparkling golden rays of sun"

I worked as an advocate for homeless people for three years and I lost count of how many times I got blessed. It was all they had left. It was a rewarding job. It's shameful to have so many veterans living in the streets. But all homelessness is shameful in our society. You would be amazed at how many middle-class families are a paycheck away from homelessness. I was homeless one day, just one day but it gave me a deep understanding of what it's like. Sleeping at a church's cold floor; wondering where to hang out after leaving the church, nobody wants you around; where to go to the bathroom? where to get a meal? It's horrible. Well done! We need to bring light to important issues in our community.

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2020


reply by the author on 01-Nov-2020
    I too have been in the dark shadows of societies blindness. When I first returned from overseas after my military hitch, Thank you for your honesty and your personal awareness, We do have a serious problem in America with mental illness drugs and alcohol abuse, poverty that has no intended fix and a political disinterest in a fix, if we had journalistic coverage that would sell advertising perhaps there would be interest to address this issue.
Comment from robyn corum
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JLR,

This is a sad piece. The state of the homeless in the States is rather intimidating and very scary. I know that some of these people CHOOSE to live this way - but no one who longs for a roof should be unable to find one. A sad story. Thanks!

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2020


reply by the author on 01-Nov-2020
    Robyn, I rather image that among those whom you claim choose to live homeless that at some point in time there was perhaps a different life goal....We do have a serious problem in America with mental illness drugs and alcohol abuse, poverty that has no intended fix and a political disinterest in a fix,, if we had journalistic coverage that would sell advertising perhaps there would be interest to address this issue.
Comment from Miss Cookie Atkinson
Excellent
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Your poem touch my heart and soul to know there are thousands of vets homeless all; around the world.
why can those rich people stop thinking of themselves
and help the real hero's in the world.
Cookie

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2020


reply by the author on 01-Nov-2020
    Cookie, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this free verse. We do have a serious problem in America with mental illness drugs and alcohol abuse, poverty that has no intended fix and a political disinterest in a fix,
reply by Miss Cookie Atkinson on 01-Nov-2020
    I know what you mean we just have to pray for each other
    Have a blessed day and say on praying grounds,
    Cookie
Comment from Cindy Decker
Excellent
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I am a vet JLR and have heard a lot of sad stories. Yours is told in eloquent fashion that it too is unforgettable. I knew Vietnam bam vets in their late 30's who were naive and innocent when going into the war, and very Disenfranchised when they got out.
I like your style, in that words seem to flow from your pen and make beautiful poetry.
Good luck in the contest.
Best wishes
Cindy

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2020


reply by the author on 01-Nov-2020
    Cindy first and foremost, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! I was one of the NAm vets coming home to the flag being burnt and ROTC spaces being demolished. We do have a serious problem in America with mental illness drugs and alcohol abuse, and poverty that has no intended fix and a political disinterest in a fix, we need the media to do there intended jobs and write about this! But in todays world...I dont see this ever happening. UGH!
Comment from mermaids
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Your poem gives the homeless veterans a voice. I feel bad about it, my father served three years of combat in WW2. Your statement that this is an American problem is so true and I wish more could be done. I like the part of your poem about the Rainbow Trout and how the man was unable to catch it. Excellent poetic free verse form.

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2020


reply by the author on 01-Nov-2020
    Mermaids, thank you and your family, especially your father, for his service. America and Americans in general were a more conscious people in that era I think. I am very grateful for your six!
Comment from Vanna1
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Oh my goodness, how disturbing. Yes I wrote about homelessness too. Us privileged people never stop to realize suffering right outside our doors. I like your imagery. You gave the real picture and I wanted to go help him. Well done!

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2020


reply by the author on 01-Nov-2020
    Vanna, thank you so much!