!37Lost

How can a nation as rich and powerful as the United States have so many homeless street people? We've emptied out our psychiatric hospitals and reformed the "welfare system"! Just think about how much money we spend on entertainment, politics, litigation, the military, sports, cigarettes, booze, drugs and guns... decadent!

The first image is a haunting photo of a former homeless man, Rodney Derr; it is from John Decker’s Photo Essay “Living in the Streets” © 1994. The next ten images show some lost souls who have been forced to live on the streets of New York City. The last photo is a homeless group camped out on the streets of Los Angeles. Apparently, we've succeeded in spreading our national shame coast to coast!

Lost or Abandoned?

                     Man's greatest Failure, I suspect,
                     Are Lives tossed out; the Wretched wrecked;
                     Ex-Wives, no Homes, lost Self-respect,
                     Just Hopelessness, benign Neglect;
                     Damned, residential Disconnect!

                     Strange Folks who’d sleep on any Street,
                     Don’t stand a Chance or can’t compete;
                     They'll hustle Change; implore, entreat,
                     Then buy more Wine; beg Scraps to eat;
                     Poor Souls, alone, so incomplete!

                     Uncaring Apathy might show,
                     That Selfishness and Cruelty grow,
                     Bring Misery to Streets of Woe;
                     The awful Thing, I’ve come to know,
                     "Are we our Brother’s Keeper? No!”

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