Feeding the Bums
They would sit on the tracks and beg for food37 total reviews
Comment from tempeste
Ciao !
I thought there was another day, still time to vote.
Glad to see your entry won by far.
I love the photo and the poem is delightful.
Congratulations on your well deserved win!
Ciao !
I thought there was another day, still time to vote.
Glad to see your entry won by far.
I love the photo and the poem is delightful.
Congratulations on your well deserved win!
Comment Written 22-Oct-2024
Comment from CrystieCookie999
Very interesting story in a poem. The railroad tracks were always far from where I lived, but my mother's father was a machinist for the Union Pacific Railroad in Wyoming. It sounds like the older siblings had seen stew made often enough to figure out an impromptu recipe. Quite a memory you have here.
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2024
Very interesting story in a poem. The railroad tracks were always far from where I lived, but my mother's father was a machinist for the Union Pacific Railroad in Wyoming. It sounds like the older siblings had seen stew made often enough to figure out an impromptu recipe. Quite a memory you have here.
Comment Written 21-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2024
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Thanks Crystie. We were used to some of these bums as my sisters were teens and I would go up there and talk to them. But they weren't all nice as a few in other cities had done things from kidnapping to murder. But yes, the railroad was almost in our yard and when they went by it was loud.
We just took them the ingredients and they would cook it themselves. They had something set up to cook over a hot fire. The railroad people would tear them down and they would rebuild them. It was amazing how they seemed more like friends. Some hung by our place because it was the industrial part of town.
Thanks for your kind words, Crystie. Love, Debi
Comment from karenina
Congratulations on the win, Debi.
My grandmother went out of her way to gather whatever she could put together for "those hungry men" and we would walk with her as she dispersed it.
(Jam and bread were often the "go-to" meal)
She would not have encouraged any "young'uns" to approach strangers without an adult, even back in the fifties.
You learned the joy of giving at five!
There is still such a need. We must find ways to help the needy that are safe for all!
Karenina
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2024
Congratulations on the win, Debi.
My grandmother went out of her way to gather whatever she could put together for "those hungry men" and we would walk with her as she dispersed it.
(Jam and bread were often the "go-to" meal)
She would not have encouraged any "young'uns" to approach strangers without an adult, even back in the fifties.
You learned the joy of giving at five!
There is still such a need. We must find ways to help the needy that are safe for all!
Karenina
Comment Written 21-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2024
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Hi Sweetie, haven't even had a minute to email to see how you are doing.
I did get your lovely card with the Bible verse inside. I love that you do that.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for the congrats too.
Thanks for the awesome review for this. Yes, it wasn't so smart of us kids to do because these bums were offered good jobs from the railroad and they were warned to get off the tracks if they didn't want to go to work. I remember I went up once when I was six and one grabbed for me and I never went back. But my oldest sister was 14 at the time and she always took stuff up out to them, but no more after I told her that I had one try to grab me. This one day stood out in my head though because Denny and I were the only two that did not get punished. Of course, Denny was only 2 at the time. The family could have gotten in trouble by the railroad for not obeying orders. Thanks again, my dear friend.
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There were no campaigns about "stranger danger" back then! You must have been shocked one of these men grabbed for you!
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Our parents warned us. But parents thought everything was dangerous and I didn't think guys that most the time were so good to me and talked sweet like a daddy could be bad. But there were kidnappings, murder, theft along the line but they were mostly good guysf by our area. My sisters weren't always the best babysitters. 😫
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The head of the Boy's Club in the NH town where my cousins grew up was a pedophile. Sadly, THOSE kind of "bums" are hiding in plain sight!
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That is sad. Really sad.
Comment from jmdg1954
Congrats on winning the contest, Debi. Well deserved.
That must've been one heck-of-a stew made with your dad's chew.... vomit!!!
And then to trump them all with your age card... brilliant!
Once again congrats...
John
reply by the author on 21-Oct-2024
Congrats on winning the contest, Debi. Well deserved.
That must've been one heck-of-a stew made with your dad's chew.... vomit!!!
And then to trump them all with your age card... brilliant!
Once again congrats...
John
Comment Written 21-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 21-Oct-2024
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Brothers can be so silly thinking that we put the chew in the stew. We just wanted them to smile like our dad smiled when he put that stuff in his mouth. haha.
Thanks Hon, for the fun review on this. That story was 100% correct.
But so many people are concerned that the grownups didn't want you to feed them. They were offered jobs there and they didn't want to work so I don't feel sorry for them then. And even people were even upset that they were called bums back then. LOL, it was the fifties. Nobody was politically correct then. Hahaha.
Anywho's, as my dad used to say. We didn't know the difference. It was a name. Well good night, brother John boy. hehe! Take care and thanks again.
Love ya, Debi
Comment from Jacob1395
Young children can definitely be cheeky and they probably know that there are things they'll be able to get away with, my brother was notorious for this when he was young. A well written piece, I enjoyed reading it and I'm sure many people will be able to relate to this.
Young children can definitely be cheeky and they probably know that there are things they'll be able to get away with, my brother was notorious for this when he was young. A well written piece, I enjoyed reading it and I'm sure many people will be able to relate to this.
Comment Written 21-Oct-2024
Comment from Esther Brown
Precious memory. I did not realize it was not politically correct to call them bums? Homeless derelicts? At any rate, God told us to give food to the hungry people and I can see Him smiling at those kids making food. Esther
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2024
Precious memory. I did not realize it was not politically correct to call them bums? Homeless derelicts? At any rate, God told us to give food to the hungry people and I can see Him smiling at those kids making food. Esther
Comment Written 20-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2024
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Thank you so very much for your very very generous six star for this one, Esther.
You are too kind for words my wonderful friend. And once again I am happy that you asked me to join as I didn't know anything about it. I so rarely enter contests. You are one awesome friend. Hugs!!
Love, Debi
Comment from Janet Foor
Very nicely done. Quite and adventure you had. I remember being told to stay away from the railroad tracks that ran through our town but no one explained why.
I enjoyed reading your story and the last line is priceless.
Blessings
Janet
Very nicely done. Quite and adventure you had. I remember being told to stay away from the railroad tracks that ran through our town but no one explained why.
I enjoyed reading your story and the last line is priceless.
Blessings
Janet
Comment Written 20-Oct-2024
Comment from lyenochka
Today there would be lots of Stranger Danger lectures and there is a real danger of human trafficking. But you and your siblings had compassion for those bums. That was quite a day!
Today there would be lots of Stranger Danger lectures and there is a real danger of human trafficking. But you and your siblings had compassion for those bums. That was quite a day!
Comment Written 20-Oct-2024
Comment from Wendy G
Well written and interesting poem. Quite a different story in a poem. Good rhyme and metre, so it flowed well. Best wishes for the contest.
Wendy
Well written and interesting poem. Quite a different story in a poem. Good rhyme and metre, so it flowed well. Best wishes for the contest.
Wendy
Comment Written 20-Oct-2024
Comment from Brenda Strauser
This is so sad. Why didn't people try to help them? You explained the bums well. I hate to call them that. The poem is well written. Qere they like gypsies?
This is so sad. Why didn't people try to help them? You explained the bums well. I hate to call them that. The poem is well written. Qere they like gypsies?
Comment Written 20-Oct-2024