Every morning waiting for the rail
carrying his briefcase with a look
indicative of appearances with
dress slacks, warm coat and slighty
worn dress shoes to show sometimes
clean, sometimes wrinkled, a look
overly tired and too apprehensive
Every morning riding up the hill to
debark and walk ever so slowly up
to unknown destinations to a job
not really there to return every
night to ride the rail down the hill
to carry his briefcase to another
place, a pillow used beneath his head
© September 2011 Renee Espriu
Every day this gentleman rides the rail with me but after watching him for a time it did not take long to notice that the briefcase is merely something hopeful. I don’t believe he really even has a home.
reneejustturtleflight.com 
Maybe he lives in his dream of still having a routine of going to a job every day.
It’s sad though and a good observation from you.
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I love to watch people and imagine their stories and what brought them to the place they are at. Perhaps it is like that with those that love to write, at least it is for me. Thank You!
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Very sad, Renee. It seems to becoming an epidemic in the US. Well penned piece.
Pamela
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aggh! *it is becoming*
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I have always noticed those less fortunate that walk the streets and these days is is all the more noticeable than before. Thank You!
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no one in this world should be homeless. its so horrible. i have recently seen a movie by will smith, in that he became homeless. God, it was so painful and i really took my first easy breath when the movie turned out to be happy ending.
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I see people all the time that live on the streets and are homeless and probably more than I might as I work and commute every day so see them and their plight. It is a lesson to learn for us all, even though difficult. The movie you speak of is a very good one, I agree. Thank You!
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Yes Renee sad that as we travel through life we see how there are those who are not always as we at first. This is a great poem my dear friend that reflects much about how we go through life wanting to be accepted maybe— perhaps he was once upon a time a man with position and had fallen on bad times.. Or it could be he aspired to become the man with the briefcase …
I knew of a Tramp who lived in our town.. He was once upon a time a well to do man.. who had a mental breakdown.. He carried with him a portfolio of all his art work.. He was an excellent artist.. and we found out he was once upon a time an art teacher..
He kept his portfolio very clean and protected it.. And yet himself was unkempt– we humans are strange creatures at times Renee..
Those who are homeless I feel so sad for….
Wishing you a Happy weekend Renee…
Dreamwalker
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I have heard of people that end up in a place in life where they would rather not be but through circumstance they have no control of, that is where they are. I nearly ended up homeless, myself, some years ago and had to go to a Food Bank, a new and humbling experience for me. I feel for all those less
fortunate. Thank you, Sue.
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Wouldn’t it be interesting to know his story. It’s made me wonder.
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It always leaves one wondering, I quite agree. Thank You!
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