JUST AN OLD GUY.....

poem by: Frank Hornby .
Written on Oct 25, 2017

"Slumped in an old shop doorway, with a vacant look upon his face,
forever to be ridiculed, shamed, and disgraced.
His clothing is all ragged, tattered, dirty, and torn,
he is always looked down on, with no pity, but scorn.
Forever to be remembered, for plotting that awful crime,
his days are now numbered, he really doesn't have much more time.
Suddenly! a small child's voice, breaks my thoughts with a loud cry,
"Hey mister!...please don't be tight,...have you gorr'a Penny for me Guy!"

 

Tags: Sad, Humor, Rhyme, Dark, Imagery,

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Christopher Russon commented on Oct 26, 2017 at 4:06pm
Well written Frank.so many like this gentleman in Birimingham.especially in the city.
Frank Hornby . commented on Oct 26, 2017 at 6:23pm
Hi Chris...this poem is referring to the Guy Fawkes we used to make as kids...and sit it outside a shop or pub...and asking the adults...have ya gorr'a Penny for the Guy?.........you must've done it when you were a kid.....
Cecilia Crasto commented on Oct 28, 2017 at 11:55pm
You always take us down "memory lane" Frank, and we so enjoy travelling back in time with you, at least I do, because I seem to spend a lot of time recalling the past, and for some reason it always seems better than the present~thanks dear Frank for sharing your memories.
Frank Hornby . commented on Nov 17, 2017 at 2:53pm
Thank you Cecilia.....memory lane is a well trodden path........everyone takes a slow walk down it at least once in their lives......it never changes...hahaha...
Michael Wise commented on Nov 14, 2018 at 3:39pm
I can think of many people that this could be speaking about, sadly.
Ellen early commented on Nov 15, 2018 at 1:22pm
I like this
R.T. Aquinas commented on Nov 28, 2018 at 5:43pm
Dark but just as good as ever, Frank.
A previous user commented on Nov 29, 2018 at 11:19pm
Sounds like me when I'm feeling the morning a bit too hard and I need to buy coffee haha...I agree, I'm definitely half your age but a lot of stuff you talk about I remember vaguely. My grandma would tell me to say it and then I would go shouting penny for the guy all the way down our street. good times :)
Frank Hornby . commented on Nov 30, 2018 at 6:20pm
Mike, Ellen, Rhys, Heyoka........👍🏻...if we never had a Guy....sometimes one of our mates would "slump in a doorway"...and pretend to be a Guy!....any old trick to make a few pennies.....outside a pub was always a good earner....haha...
A previous user commented on Aug 20, 2019 at 8:16pm
Just An Old Guy.....sort of reminds me of the homeless people you see on the street. I seen a very interesting character in the doorway in the building of a social work department for a college campus. I was a student then, and the man was completely covered from head to toe in a leather costume. I was told he was mentally ill and was harmless but he was very afraid to come out of his costume even in high temperatures. So his head was covered complete with goggles and gloves. Today he is no longer there. Thanks for reading Call It A Day. Hope you enjoy reading some more of my poems. From Mylinda Rives To Frank Hornby.
Frank Hornby . commented on Aug 21, 2019 at 1:17pm
Yeah some old Guy Fawkes that we used to make for bonfire night were probably better dressed than some of the true homeless people out there today....really sad...thanks for commenting Mylinda...I look forward to reading more of your poetry....✌🏻

 

 

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