Yearning For Serenity



The sunset fades and doom descends
Upon these concrete pillars bend
The light of which the night transcends
The thoughts of which my mind suspends
.
The souls of which these streets have claimed
The blood and tears the sewers drained
The virgin flesh abused and maimed
The sanity I can't maintain
.
Amongst the filth and urine stench
My bloodshot eyes and fist both clenched
Tattered clothes and shoeless feet
A toothless grin for me to greet

Zombies roam throughout these streets
My concrete bed and cardboard sheets
The sadness which my heart defeats
As tourist gawk from high-rise seats
.
No one really knows my pain
The suffering perhaps in vain
Surrounded by all this guilt and shame
And yet, they all feel I’m to blame
.
Lost amongst these desperate hoarders
Trapped within these social borders
In search of one amenity
And yearning for serenity
.
Lord allow me one more day
Despite submersed in this decay
I trust that you will lead the way
My heart is yours and will not sway
.
For someday I may rise above
Perhaps compassion, or maybe love
A new sunrise provides some hope
And sheds some light and means to cope
.
Exposed now to this horror show
And all the pains of which I tow
Just sit back and watch the show
And welcome to my home, Skid Row

About this poem

A glimpse of a struggling society that ails so many individuals in this country. The poem is a reflection of a resident who retains hope despite their circumstances and retains their hope and faith for a brighter future.

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Written on April 09, 2023

Submitted by InReVerse63 on May 07, 2023

1:09 min read
14

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXAA BXBC XXDD EEEE CCFF AXGG HHHH IIJJ KKKK
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,257
Words 232
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 14, 29

Discuss the poem Yearning For Serenity with the community...

1 Comment
  • InReVerse63
    Working in Downtown Los Angeles provides a daily view of the unfortunate souls struggling in the streets of Skid Row. The poem is written from the point of view of a struggling resident that despite all of their disadvantages remains hopeful and retains their faith for a brighter future. 
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"Yearning For Serenity" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 3 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/158401/yearning-for-serenity>.

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