Monday, November 01, 2010

On a Whim

When I read my daughter's post this evening about NaBloPoMo*, I decided without giving it much thought to try to write and post something here on the Willow's Cottage blog every day this month.  I wonder if I can keep up the momentum.  Because I'm a writing teacher, I feel a bit obligated to write well and sometimes that keeps me from writing at all.  Silly, huh?

The following is a two paragraph descriptive essay I recently wrote about a homeless man I saw at the local library.    

      Dejected and downhearted, the bareheaded young man sat slumped against the library building wall, slowly sucking on a discarded cigarette butt because it was all he had.  He focused on each puff, the smoke as gray as the foggy day.  After the butt was extinguished, he continued to sit, head bowed, hand over face, his head pounding with the overpowering pain of what felt like a migraine.  Tom had a hangover. 

     Library patrons passed him where he squatted near the front entrance, some ignoring him altogether, the proverbial elephant in that outdoor courtyard room, others glancing furtively and quickly in his direction, careful to never make eye contact.  He, in turn, ignored them all focusing his gaze inward on his own self-imposed misery.  Clad in faded blue jeans, once white sneakers and a gray fleece jacket with empty pockets, he stood slowly, stretched clumsily, and shuffled off noisily, searching for water, warmth and welcome.

*National Blog Posting Month

6 comments:

Unknown said...

You write very well Kak Willow, something I wish I could. Happy week ahead.

roxie said...

You have a gift for putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Probably has something to do with your compassion and patience. Looking forward to daily postings.

Bethany said...

I wanted to hear more!! The "self-imposed" part intrigued me...

ellen b. said...

No wonder you teach writing :0)

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

Yes, libraries are the haven of choice for many homeless people. I always hope they will find some comfort and perhaps insight into their situation, and at the same time wish they didn't smell so bad.

One librarian noted that she had a regular gathering of elderly poor folks at her library and that they all had an odd shuffle. One day she learned that the shuffle was because old age had robbed many of them of the ability to reach down and clip their toe nails; the nails were curving under their toes. She took it upon herself to offer a regular "foot clinic" for them, where she would clip their toe nails and clean their feet.

Candace said...

Hi Willow! Thanks for dropping a comment by my blog today to encourage me during NaBloPoMo. If two words counts as a post, then I can do that!

This is a very lovely piece of writing. I don't think I realized you taught writing, but I see now!

Happy November!