Like Animals in a Cage

Rotten fruit. 

Toast and cereal for days. 

Tired eyes and weakened bones

Leaves us miserable and exhausted. 

Fighting for sobriety and staying clean. 

You must obey their rules.

For if you don't, you're out of the game. 

Seven days. 

Thirty days. 

Ninety days and more. 

We are like animals

Locked in a cage. 

Strangers come and stare...

They look down and away. 

How dare they socialize with us. 

How dare they know our names. 

Pile of bags mounted high. 

Empty wallets. 

Hungered stomachs. 

But we must say goodbye. 

One o'clock. 

Two o'clock. 

Three o'clock. 

Four. 

The doors and gates come alive. 

Our weakened bones return. 

Sit back. 

Relax. 

But don't you dare fall asleep. 

For if you do, you're out of the game. 

Seven days. 

Thirty days. 

Ninety days and more. 

Pushed to the streets. 

Abandoned.

Alone. 

Nowhere to run to

Nowhere to hide. 

Maybe one day we will have a home. 

But until then,

We are here

Locked away...

                        Like animals in a cage.