A BLIND EYE, A DEAF EAR
Tall, imposing buildings
scrape against the sky;
light from their windows
adds to the gleam.
Taxis full of tourists
madly speed by.
Itıs New York City,
the vacationerıs dream.
Visitors flood in,
exploring, sightseeing;
they move away, carefully
step around,
oblivious, uncaring,
guardedly not seeing
the crippled, the wretched,
the dark side of town.
All around the great
city
Un-numbered homeless
dwell,
collecting sneers instead
of pity,
living their version
of hell.
Eyes averted, the visitors
keep walking
hurrying away, forced
to look, afraid to see
Ears closed, they go
one talking,
never hearing the whispered
plea.
A homeless woman, a
broken man
looking for a handout,
space to rest awhile.
trying to exist as
best they can
forgotten, dismissed,
avoided, reviled.
I always pass, not
looking, unheeding;
I roll up the window,
turn away.
I close my ears, donıt
hear the pleading.
I know I should stop;
I know I should stay.
It makes me grateful,
I realize, ashamed,
since Iıve disregarded
their poignant cry,
and I understand, admitting
to blame,
that there, but for
Godıs grace, go I.
İ Ellie
Maziekien
7/29/2000
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