This one really got to me. As a mom of a son who has struggled with addiction, I’ve seen how easily people get treated like “ghosts” looked through, labeled, and dismissed. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve even had people in my life make cruel comments about the homeless and addicts, and it stays with you. Your portrayal of these “ghosts” being very much alive, just unseen, hit deep. Thank you for writing this.
How we treat the unhoused as a whole is utterly disgusting to me. Often when those 'haunted houses' are torn down, all their meager possessions go with it. Without thought or care to how impossible it can feel to get a new ID or whatever important things they did have. I have watched this happen far too many times. If people would stop to understand any of them, maybe it wouldn't feel so scary, maybe we would be more compelled to provide better housing options where they are not so haunted. Thank you for sharing.
"Some ghosts inside are alive" -- this line feels like it quietly breaks the whole poem open
& the way you move between the building & the self & the brother without making it feel forced; the transitions are so good
& the ending is brutal in the best way, the developers don't solve anything, they just move the grief somewhere more visible -- i hate how close to home that hits
It’s probably a lot closer than you think. It certainly is to me.
A specific town
Oh so lovely~
In the eighties and nineties +
Now riddled with big name stores and places
Housing that’s 70 yrs aged
150k put in used to garner 2 million 6 years ago
And all the extra building on freeways ugly places is just the way it is. I guess if anyone wants to know the town which is now a small city. Let me know.
When I saw the post I thought it is a horror story series but I think this work as well. I really liked how you connect both the idea of haunted house to a person dealing with his own trauma. I don't need a ghost to haunt me my inner pain can scare for my whole life.
This piece is such a sad reminder of how little we have accomplished in a problem no one seems able to resolve. It will only get worse under the cruel policies of a tyrant who would rather see people die, than offer the help needed to thrive! In the 1980’s my thesis was on solving the homeless problem using the practice of politics for the common good…not like today! Politicians, not public servants or citizen legislators ignore the societal ills and concentrate on their self interests of getting re-elected. They never address this issue with seriousness. The NIMBYism thrives because they appeal to voters, not their whole constituency! Very sad, we should not be selling foreclosed properties to other countries. We shoulď be $eviding plans to house our homeless population with homeownership and programs lifting them with dire circumstances !
This one really got to me. As a mom of a son who has struggled with addiction, I’ve seen how easily people get treated like “ghosts” looked through, labeled, and dismissed. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve even had people in my life make cruel comments about the homeless and addicts, and it stays with you. Your portrayal of these “ghosts” being very much alive, just unseen, hit deep. Thank you for writing this.
Are you really talking about our foreign controlled gooberment? Hmmm.🤔🤫🫣
How we treat the unhoused as a whole is utterly disgusting to me. Often when those 'haunted houses' are torn down, all their meager possessions go with it. Without thought or care to how impossible it can feel to get a new ID or whatever important things they did have. I have watched this happen far too many times. If people would stop to understand any of them, maybe it wouldn't feel so scary, maybe we would be more compelled to provide better housing options where they are not so haunted. Thank you for sharing.
Oof. Powerful again. And I know I'll be thinking of this poem the next time I take a trip to the cities and see the tents.
Yes. Stopped me in my tracks. Beautifully written.
Such a bad robotic reading. I can't listen. The human voice is so much richer.
I just read it. I can get something better next time if you want.
Truth sad I could be there
Even if I had the courage with my own weapon
I would have to have my own courage and specific plans
a
B
c
Very well written.
"Some ghosts inside are alive" -- this line feels like it quietly breaks the whole poem open
& the way you move between the building & the self & the brother without making it feel forced; the transitions are so good
& the ending is brutal in the best way, the developers don't solve anything, they just move the grief somewhere more visible -- i hate how close to home that hits
It’s probably a lot closer than you think. It certainly is to me.
A specific town
Oh so lovely~
In the eighties and nineties +
Now riddled with big name stores and places
Housing that’s 70 yrs aged
150k put in used to garner 2 million 6 years ago
And all the extra building on freeways ugly places is just the way it is. I guess if anyone wants to know the town which is now a small city. Let me know.
I really like this one. It’s really well done. I love your take on ghosts.
When I saw the post I thought it is a horror story series but I think this work as well. I really liked how you connect both the idea of haunted house to a person dealing with his own trauma. I don't need a ghost to haunt me my inner pain can scare for my whole life.
This was super deep , ghosts of the dead and ghost of those that are still alive … loved it ❤️
This piece is such a sad reminder of how little we have accomplished in a problem no one seems able to resolve. It will only get worse under the cruel policies of a tyrant who would rather see people die, than offer the help needed to thrive! In the 1980’s my thesis was on solving the homeless problem using the practice of politics for the common good…not like today! Politicians, not public servants or citizen legislators ignore the societal ills and concentrate on their self interests of getting re-elected. They never address this issue with seriousness. The NIMBYism thrives because they appeal to voters, not their whole constituency! Very sad, we should not be selling foreclosed properties to other countries. We shoulď be $eviding plans to house our homeless population with homeownership and programs lifting them with dire circumstances !
Loving the poem and thanks for the prompt. May take a while to get round to it!
Love how you use ghosts here, it’s so powerful and visceral. Brilliantly written and so heartbreaking that this is real.
This is such an evocative and relatable way to write about the homeless. Thank you, @HVR 🔥🔥🔥