This is an introduction and preview of work from my upcoming book; "Out of the Corner of My Eye." The launch date is August, 2010.
This book delves into the souls and lives of urban street dwellers, the homeless, various characters; and those who manage and work with them. One story I call: "Big Baby."
BIG BABY
Her constant whine
Seems right;
They got use to
Hearing it over days
Months, years, at night
From that first
Time they saw her
Poor dear;
Thinks she’s still
The cute, young, sweet,
Loveable, good looking, fine
Girl she once was; When
Dude’s flip and morph
Into irrational crazies;
Just seeing watching her
Walk turns them into
Blithering idiots, barking
And begging for abuse.
Her voice takes on
A stark urgency; she
Needs, wants something.
An interesting oddity
For the girl of color;
She stole the look, ways
And act from movies stars
Who played the part
And got their way;
“It works for them
So why not me?”
Free for the taking;
She grabs, shapes and
Makes it her own;
She was cute and funny.
But something got lost after
Years and added pounds;
Too many days of sameness,
Limited time viewing new
Films, not staying current,
Damaged and cool her appeal;
She kept using
Outmoded lines, things
Sad, obsolete, out of touch;
Caught in a time warp;
Using what no longer worked.
Some antics were tolerated.
“She’s not hurting ‘nobody,”
Shared what she had;
Food, information;
Gossip and a laugh;
She strolls up to the
Day shelter director:
“Can I come in the building sir?
I need to go to the Baff-froom.
“Mr. I need a bus pass,” she said.
“I’m out,” he said.
“Gotta’ get back home,” she said.
Syrupy words drain out slow
Irritating begging runs
Down and coats her throat.
It could drive you crazy.
Count on her coming back
In the course of a day,
As her needs increase;
That’s how she got tagged
And known as; “Big Baby!”
It was an everyday thing.
She’s been answering
To the name every since;
“Hey; Big Baby!”
“Huh? What you want?
Hi! You got any ‘ciggeretes?
Where you been?”
That’s her!
She’s ‘Big Baby.
Her constant whine
Seems right;
They got use to
Hearing it over days
Months, years, at night
From that first
Time they saw her
Poor dear;
Thinks she’s still
The cute, young, sweet,
Loveable, good looking, fine
Girl she once was; When
Dude’s flip and morph
Into irrational crazies;
Just seeing watching her
Walk turns them into
Blithering idiots, barking
And begging for abuse.
Her voice takes on
A stark urgency; she
Needs, wants something.
An interesting oddity
For the girl of color;
She stole the look, ways
And act from movies stars
Who played the part
And got their way;
“It works for them
So why not me?”
Free for the taking;
She grabs, shapes and
Makes it her own;
She was cute and funny.
But something got lost after
Years and added pounds;
Too many days of sameness,
Limited time viewing new
Films, not staying current,
Damaged and cool her appeal;
She kept using
Outmoded lines, things
Sad, obsolete, out of touch;
Caught in a time warp;
Using what no longer worked.
Some antics were tolerated.
“She’s not hurting ‘nobody,”
Shared what she had;
Food, information;
Gossip and a laugh;
She strolls up to the
Day shelter director:
“Can I come in the building sir?
I need to go to the Baff-froom.
“Mr. I need a bus pass,” she said.
“I’m out,” he said.
“Gotta’ get back home,” she said.
Syrupy words drain out slow
Irritating begging runs
Down and coats her throat.
It could drive you crazy.
Count on her coming back
In the course of a day,
As her needs increase;
That’s how she got tagged
And known as; “Big Baby!”
It was an everyday thing.
She’s been answering
To the name every since;
“Hey; Big Baby!”
“Huh? What you want?
Hi! You got any ‘ciggeretes?
Where you been?”
That’s her!
She’s ‘Big Baby.
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