Adrians Fence

[Delta40]

his name was Adrian
and he founded
a town for the homeless
Off the main street
where everyday life thrived
a battered sign
pointed the way
for lost souls to dwell
Well intentioned folk
packed food to donate
and stood outside
the condemned building
till Adrian arrived
to escort them
only those in the know
could read the wire fences
and lead them to
the home of the homeless
they balanced precariously
along steel girders
they stumbled on crumbling brick
Adrian laughed at their awkwardness
and said the price of entry
was at least a twisted ankle
he felt the fenceline till he found the tear
and ushered the 'tourists' in
a giant deepfryer bubbled
the greasy tang of chips
as two people peeled and cut
another person served the many
waiting in line with bowl in hands
They took the food offered anyway
hugged Adrian, who blessed them
He pointed further down
the crumbling rubble
and insisted his small business
operated in the ruins of peoples hearts
to corner a viable market
on the plight of lowerarchy
Business for him was not
about reaping profit
Adrian smiled and said because of him
the homeless eat the best chips in town

[angliholic]

kind-hearted, touching people everywhere!
Without them, this world is filled with horrible beasts!
Thanks for sharing this poem and story!

[Jerrybaldy]

lot more than meets the eye. (btw you have a food obsession :) ) based on hadrians wall and your scottish roots and full of Deltaesque ( I said it) humour and social commentary that I dare not guess at, but a joy to read as is your every post. sincerely.
Jerry

[tailor STATELY]

"for lost souls to dwell"

"Well intentioned folk"

"Adrian laughed at their awkwardness"

"insisted his small business
operated in the ruins of peoples hearts"

"They took the food offered anyway"

"to corner a viable market"

"on the plight of lowerarchy"

"Business for him was not
about reaping profit
Adrian smiled and said because of him"

Forgive me my ambivalence about your poem. I really wanted to read this poem as a study on charity, but found it more a parody (good on you if that was your intention). Perhaps my sensibilities get in the way (sigh).

[hillwalker]

Perhaps more a study of altruism than charity?

[Haunted]

wow, food for thought (pardon the pun) about people's true intentions. A subtle irony that didn't go unnoticed. Great piece of work there, Del.

[Delta40]

ambivalence forgiven and yes, it does explore altruism, guilt, and hidden agendas

[PrinceMyshkin]

Somehow I completely missed the irony or ambivalence in this. I took it that Adrian was an altruist, pure if not so simple.