Image “Somewhere in Between” by Anne Worner CC BY-SA 2.0.
He sits on the Post Office steps
His clothes wrapped tightly around
A frame that now days feels the cold.
He appears as the workday begins and takes his position
Doesn’t bother anyone just watches
The world go by, same as it’s always done.
Regulars nod to him as they pass
A boy from the support unit delivers him a coffee
Asks no payment despite the man’s offer
A ritual they both respect.
The boy looks into his eyes
Struggles to find words that don’t
Tie his vocal cords in knots
‘H…ave a g…od day,’ he mutters
As he hurries off into his world.
The man sips and observes,
Aware that if you come too close
His smell is overwhelming.
Washing is not so easy
He is embarrassed by the invisible circle
Around him.
The bathhouse is closed
The nearest one is a train trip,
That means people, that means ridicule,
He suffers the indignity of solitude.
A small girl approaches
Looks into his face
Wonders the story behind each crease
Touches her own bland face imagining,
Her mother notices and drags her away
The man is unmoved, watches and waits
For one day that same girl will ask him his story.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/10/26/photochallenge-84/
Morpethroad 
It’s so sad that this has become all to common these days. Nicely written, Michael. A perfect depiction of the photo.
Thanks Lyn, hope you are well today…
“Wonders the story behind each crease; Touches her own bland face imagining”
Beautifully written with compassion and deep-seeing eyes. Compassion the young girl carries with her; knowing eyes of the man on the post office steps.
“The lost and the forgotten. Not so when stories told in photographs and prose/poetry,” she pronounced, sounding reasonably sure of herself. “Lest, not forgotten by the compassionate.”
Dear adh, thanks for your comment, the compassionate in our world are rare and should be revered by us all. Good to see you are sounding ‘reasonably sure of yourself’?
Have a good evening. Michael.
Michael – once again you weave a story that is compelling in character, depth and breadth of emotion.
I have a sense of seeing this unfold … watching … not as a photographer … but as a witness who wonders but dares not approach too closely.
A small girl approaches
Looks into his face
Wonders the story behind each crease
Touches her own bland face imagining,
Her mother notices and drags her away
The man is unmoved, watches and waits
For one day that same girl will ask him his story.
This ending …. so incredible … it holds such power and dignity.
Great job Michael – thank you
Cheers
Pat
Thanks Pat, its where my mind goes as I see these men and women around the place there faces lined with experiences I can never imagine……sometimes it through the innocence of a child that we can discover the truth behind them,,,,,
Oh MY, this has to be my new favorite of yours, Michael–wowza, enviably well done!
Thank you J glad you found it so, you are very kind….
Not kind so much, always genuine.
A small girl approaches
Looks into his face
Wonders the story behind each crease
Touches her own bland face imagining,
I also really loved this section, very moving. Beautiful writing Michael
Thank Yves, I enjoyed this one, great to have Pat on the MLM team….
It is Pat’s amazing =)
I really do adore this piece. Because the photo in the face reminds me of my grandfathers.
And I just wish when I was able that I asked them to tell me more of their stories.
Now I just have to guess and write fiction. 🙂
Every face, every line a story. Hmm…I hope ‘she’ doesn’t wait too long to ask. 😉
I feel the same about my father as I didn’t know my grandfathers. He told me a lot but there is still stuff I’d like to ask him….thanks for your lovely comment.
Michael this is excellent, I really loved reading this and taking the place of this man, who is not looked kindly upon by society. Very descriptive and moving.
Thank you so much Jen. It was a good topic to write on. Hope you are doing well.
Welcome. Back still playing up, but doing ok – thank you 😊
😀😀