Last updated:

19 February 2012

By dashpoet (Mark Shepherd)

Through the Internet Mark has been contacted by someone who became homeless in June 2009, when he was in his late forties. Since then he has been living rough in the Home Counties.

Seven months later he was in a fairly desperate state. He claimed to have been ripped off by "friends". He found his relationship with officialdom demeaning and even threatening. He was disgusted by many of the other people he met who were homeless or unemployed. He was dismayed by the physical state he himself has got into. An educated man with good jobs until now, he saw himself without home, hope or help.

His plight led Mark to compose a poem, "Kneeling at the Gate". You should hear his recording of it in a few seconds. If it does not start automatically, click on the "Listen" button above.

Our thanks to Mark for letting us use this poem. To hear or read more of his poetry, click on the "dashpoetry" button above.