Feeding the Bums
They would sit on the tracks and beg for food39 total reviews
Comment from GWHARGIS
I remember the terms bum and hobo. Neither was very flattering. I don't think I could have let them starve either. But I would have locked my doors. This was a great poem. I could see the whole thing. Great imagery and interesting subject. Gretchen
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
  |
I remember the terms bum and hobo. Neither was very flattering. I don't think I could have let them starve either. But I would have locked my doors. This was a great poem. I could see the whole thing. Great imagery and interesting subject. Gretchen
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
-
Hi Gretchen, haha, yes, our doors were locked as soon as my parents got home. We were supposed to have them locked when we were home.
I kinda got behind but I am back to say thank you so very much for the sweetest and kindest words for this one. I knew as soon as the woman who made this contest asked me to join it, what I was going to write about. This day was in the back of mind for a long time and I just remembered it that day. So thank you so very much for your kind words, my dear friend.
Love, Debi
Comment from Aussie
Glad that word was lost, sounds awful. To point a finger at the poor, starving folks. Mother and Dad must have been scared of the poor sitting on the tracks. It was a cry for help. Feed the poor you did, aged 5 was wonderful. "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."So many people today are starving whilst the rich feed their ego. Well done. K xx
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2024
|
Glad that word was lost, sounds awful. To point a finger at the poor, starving folks. Mother and Dad must have been scared of the poor sitting on the tracks. It was a cry for help. Feed the poor you did, aged 5 was wonderful. "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."So many people today are starving whilst the rich feed their ego. Well done. K xx
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2024
-
Hi Kace, back in the 1950s bums were not the same as the homeless are here. At least not the ones on the railroad tracks. They hung out there and begged off people, some robbed, killed, and kidnapped kids in some cases. Many of these bums were offered jobs on the railroad but most were too lazy to work. We were too young to see all these problems but the railroad used to chase them out of there before anyone else got in trouble. These were mostly trouble makers but some of them were kind. Once I took something up to one of them and he grabbed for me, so I ran home and I never went back. Thanks for the thoughtful comments my friend.
-
May I ask if most were blacks?
-
None of them were black. They were offered good paying jobs on the railroad and didn't want to work. Back in those days black people lived in other big cities tho
Comment from Marilyn Hamilton
An excellent entry for the One Day at Five writing prompt. A very sweet poem with a touch of humor. Taking us back to the good old days! Good luck.
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
|
An excellent entry for the One Day at Five writing prompt. A very sweet poem with a touch of humor. Taking us back to the good old days! Good luck.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
-
Hi Marilyn, I kinda got behind but I am back to say thank you so very much for the sweetest and kindest words for this one. I knew as soon as the woman who made this contest asked me to join it, what I was going to write about. This day was in the back of mind for a long time and I just remembered it that day. So thank you so very much for your kind words, my dear friend.
Love, Debi
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Aha! You were the baby of a large family eh? You inject so much atmosphere and a sense of the past into this charming episode in your childhood. Your poetry is beautifully crafted with excellent rhyme and an entertaining, evolving story, all complemented with a great visual. Well done and good luck! Debbie
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
|
Aha! You were the baby of a large family eh? You inject so much atmosphere and a sense of the past into this charming episode in your childhood. Your poetry is beautifully crafted with excellent rhyme and an entertaining, evolving story, all complemented with a great visual. Well done and good luck! Debbie
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
-
Hi Debbie, yes, there were 9 people in my family. And today I just had lunch with my tree older sister and my brother who is a year ahead of of me. I read them the poem and boy did the other bum stories start.
I kinda got behind but I am back to say thank you so very much for the sweetest and kindest words for this one. I knew as soon as the woman who made this contest asked me to join it, what I was going to write about. This day was in the back of mind for a long time and I just remembered it that day. So thank you so very much for your kind words, my dear friend.
Love, Debi
-
Hey, congrats on the win too:)
Comment from Barry Penfold
Yes, political correctness has invaded many parts of the world. I liked your contest entry and at five you could pretty well get away with most things. Love the image. Good rhyming. Thanks for sharing and all the best in the competition.
Regards
Barry Penfold.
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
|
Yes, political correctness has invaded many parts of the world. I liked your contest entry and at five you could pretty well get away with most things. Love the image. Good rhyming. Thanks for sharing and all the best in the competition.
Regards
Barry Penfold.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
-
Hi Barry, it is me again.. kinda got behind but I am back to say thank you so very much for the sweetest and kindest words for this one. I knew as soon as the woman who made this contest asked me to join it, what I was going to write about. This day was in the back of mind for a long time and I just remembered it that day. So thank you so very much for your kind words, my dear friend.
Love, Debi
Comment from Kahlani
Lucky you! I'm in two minds here about whether or not you should help the homeless. First, we must show compassion for other people less fortunate than us. Second, there is stranger danger. But then again, you were only five. Well done.
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
|
Lucky you! I'm in two minds here about whether or not you should help the homeless. First, we must show compassion for other people less fortunate than us. Second, there is stranger danger. But then again, you were only five. Well done.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
-
Me again Kahlani, I kinda got behind but I am back to say thank you so very much for the sweetest and kindest words for this one. I knew as soon as the woman who made this contest asked me to join it, what I was going to write about. This day was in the back of mind for a long time and I just remembered it that day. So thank you so very much for your kind words, my dear friend.
Love, Debi
Comment from Nicki.B
This is a fabulous story, I enjoyed it so much. The nostalgia in there was just lovely! Its so sweet that as kids you had the kindness and empathy to feed the bums. I absolutely loves that punchline, to compliment the poem prompt. Good luck with the contest.
Best Wishes
Nicki
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
|
This is a fabulous story, I enjoyed it so much. The nostalgia in there was just lovely! Its so sweet that as kids you had the kindness and empathy to feed the bums. I absolutely loves that punchline, to compliment the poem prompt. Good luck with the contest.
Best Wishes
Nicki
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 24-Oct-2024
-
Hi Nicki, I am ground determined to get caught up, I kinda got behind but I am back to say thank you so very much for the sweetest and kindest words for this one. I knew as soon as the woman who made this contest asked me to join it, what I was going to write about. This day was in the back of mind for a long time and I just remembered it that day. So thank you so very much for your kind words, my dear friend.
Love, Debi
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Debi,
I'm surprised that the bums or tramps were around when you were a child. My mother-in- law grew up on a farm in rural Ohio, and she mentioned during the depression that the used to come to her back door for food. Her mom always fed them on the back porch steps. I know that you're not that old, so I guess it must have been the particular area where you grew up that was still an issue. Well done gal. Oh, by the way, Happy Birthday! I heard from Pam Lonsdale that the two of you shared a birthday. I hope this is one to remember for all the right reasons. God bless and keep you gal.
Tom
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2024
|
Hello Debi,
I'm surprised that the bums or tramps were around when you were a child. My mother-in- law grew up on a farm in rural Ohio, and she mentioned during the depression that the used to come to her back door for food. Her mom always fed them on the back porch steps. I know that you're not that old, so I guess it must have been the particular area where you grew up that was still an issue. Well done gal. Oh, by the way, Happy Birthday! I heard from Pam Lonsdale that the two of you shared a birthday. I hope this is one to remember for all the right reasons. God bless and keep you gal.
Tom
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2024
-
Hi Tom, yes Pam and I are birthday twins because we not only share the same day, we share the same year. We were born the exact same day. So that is special to us both. So we are having a toast together. We are each having a drink. Mine is a margarita, and we will send the picture to each other and toast each other then. Every year we do something special. This is our third year together. So thanks for all your kind comments. Pam maybe didn't tell you which one it is but I will. It is our 70th. OUCH! But I am having a fun day with all my friends here. Tomorrow is with my family.
We lived in a place called St Cloud, MN. It was a big city. But we lived on the edge in an industrial are down an alley. Seven kids all the way from two years at this time, I was five and my oldest sister was 14. So yeah, believe me, we knew what bums were. This would have been in 1959, so we were in the edge of the city and we didn't know them by any other names then bums.
So I have to ask, how did you know this one was me? LOL. This is a blind contest. I will just delete my personal part when I am done. So no biggie. I would rather lose the contest than to miss a chance to see you. Thanks again, my friend. And thanks again for the sweet wishes. Love, Debi
-
Hello Debi,
your name must have shown up in the article at the time. I think what it was, was I looked you up in the community, so that's probably why it showed.
I've got your girls by a couple of years. I'll be 73 this next year. I honestly only wanted to make it until my boys graduated from high school, but that's been years ago, and I'm glad I didn't check out too soon, I would have missed out on all the great folks on Fan Story, to say nothing of their writing. There is so much talent here. I hope the rest of your day is a complete delight.
Blessings,
Tom
-
No worries, Tom. I am just so thrilled to hear from you. Take care my friend.
Comment from gansach
This is a great entry for the One Day at Five writing prompt competition. While we didn't live close to railroad tracks when I was a kid, I did know who and what bums were and that, if we saw any, we were to stay away from them. Today they would be the homeless living on the streets having lost a job or a home. Your poem has a great rhythm and rhyme and that last couplet with the twist, that you escaped punishment because of your age. Very well done!
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2024
|
This is a great entry for the One Day at Five writing prompt competition. While we didn't live close to railroad tracks when I was a kid, I did know who and what bums were and that, if we saw any, we were to stay away from them. Today they would be the homeless living on the streets having lost a job or a home. Your poem has a great rhythm and rhyme and that last couplet with the twist, that you escaped punishment because of your age. Very well done!
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2024
-
Hi Gail, I thank you so very much for this awesome review and comments. I just had lunch with my remaining four siblings today, so I read them the poem about what I remembered and they said I was right on. I can't believe I remembered it all these years later. Anyway we had a good laugh at how many times we took them food and would sneak around. What memories.
Thanks again, my dear friend. Love, Debi
Comment from mermaids
Your poetic form gives a clear picture of another place and time. I remember the homeless being called bums. You have a smooth poetic flow of words and tell a tale in your poem. It reads like a mini movie in poetic form.
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2024
|
Your poetic form gives a clear picture of another place and time. I remember the homeless being called bums. You have a smooth poetic flow of words and tell a tale in your poem. It reads like a mini movie in poetic form.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2024
-
Hi Elaine, I thank you so very much for this awesome review and comments. I just had lunch with my remaining four siblings today, so I read them the poem about what I remembered and they said I was right on. I can't believe I remembered it all these years later. Anyway we had a good laugh at how many times we took them food and would sneak around. What memories.
Thanks again, my dear friend. Love, Debi