Questions For You and Me

By Jake Folger - Christmas Eve, 2011

 

Stuffed and overflowing stockings hanging by the fireside

Pretty plastic candlelights glowing in the night

Sticky candy canes hanging from pine tree boughs

This all presents questions, I will in this poem pose.

 

When a little kid with Christmas time coming round

The joyful music, it seemed was the only sound

But really, I wonder now what it all means to me

Is it all about that perfectly shaped and lighted Christmas tree?

 

Little, sweet baby Jesus sleeping in some straw

It seems to me that someone might notice a little flaw

What is the difference between that dirty man without a home

And the King of Kings that almost all of us must have known?

 

And tell me what was that message that He gave to you and me

Before His life was ended on that old and lonely tree?

Was it all about just taking care of little, selfish me?

Or is there more here, more for all of us to see?

 

I asked a lot of questions in this poem this Christmas Eve

I guess this time of year, the cold, and the suffering that I see

Fills my head and heart with old and sad memories

I am hoping that maybe from it all we will not always flee.

 

Little, sweet baby Jesus sleeping in some straw

It seems to me that someone might notice a little flaw

What is the difference between that dirty man without a home

And the King of Kings that almost all of us must have known?

 

Although I Wish...

By Jake Folger - December 20, 2011

 

All I got is this bag

Tattered and so frayed

One pair of socks to call my own

No place for my head to lay.

 

Beg for money to buy my food

No fork or knife, man this is crude

I wish I knew what I could do

I should slam a six of booze.

 

People passing in their fine business suits

Acting as if I am not here

“I am a man!” I want to shout

This life is hard to bear.

 

There is no job to be had

So I sit and hope for better things

Or I organize my tattered bag 

Whatever it takes to not feel sad.

 

The sun is setting it is night

My fight has just begun

I pray I won’t freeze before it’s through

Although I wish my life was done.

Concrete Pillow

By Jake Folger - December 22, 2011

 

It is hard, cold and unforgiving

All morning, day and night

Many think I chose this life for me

They say it’s not their fight.

 

Sometimes the hunger really sucks

But I do have my pride

I wont beg, so if I must

In the garbage I will dive.

 

My one pair of stockings

are so filthy and so stiff

I try to wash them in the public fountain

Since I wont likely get new ones as a gift.

 

I while away the hours

I just try to get through each day

I wish there was a job for me

To earn some honest pay.

 

I watch the traffic going by

Busy people to and fro

It is though I am not even here

No one will say hello.

 

It is now time to lay down to sleep

I pray the Lord, my soul will keep

And whether or not I die before I wake

All homelessness in this world, please erradicate.

This Homeless Way

 By Jake Folger - December 23, 2011

 

I had not bathed myself in so many, many months

My clothing was so filthy, man I surely must have stunk

Everything I owned in the world was within my very reach

This life I had not chosen had completely taken over me.

 

Terrible fears plagued me, would I lose my little spot? 

No one must know I’m living here, absolutely not

I had to hide my life from the world, of which I was not a part

This whole life I was living was hurting me a lot.

 

It took so many years before I landed on my feet

Still could I walk among the world? Was I really free?

Yes, I guess I have a home I can almost call my own

But even though, it is all still, so very bitter sweet.

 

So now I do have a home but there is little change in me

I still have the homeless habits, that homeless mentality

I think I will, in some way, always feel I’m still on the street

Do other former homeless people feel the same as me?

 

So if you know me now, if you see the same clothing day to day

For some reason It is difficult to even want to bathe

And I worry about tomorrow, If I still will have a home

Please know I am trying, it is hard to change this homeless way.

 

 

Helping Hands

By Jake Folger - December 25, 2011

 

The night time is coming to a close

I have awakened now

But I’m not ready to get out of bed

I can hardly feel my toes.

 

This is pretty much a common place

Among the friends I know

It’s okay, I will work it out

Cause I got to take a leak right now.

 

So I am up and moving around

Tidying up my things

Put that there, stuff this here

the trash in the trash can sling.

 

My friend the business lady

Will be coming soon

With coffee, perhaps some breakfast

And some conversation too.

 

I thank my Higher Power

For the good people in this land

There is some hope for folks like me

Thanks for the helping hand.