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| My poetry is, or should be, useful to me for one reason: it is the record of my individual struggle from darkness towards some measure of light . . . My poetry is, or should be, useful to others for its individual recording of that same struggle with which they are necessarily acquainted . . . Poetry recording the stripping of the individual darkness, must inevitably cast light upon what has been hidden for too long, and, by doing so, make clear the naked exposure Poet Robert Graves in Morrison |
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| The Shivering Beggar Robert Graves 1895 - 1995 NEAR Clapham village, where fields began, Saint Edward met a beggar man. It was Christmas morning, the church bells tolled, The old man trembled for the fierce cold. Saint Edward cried, “It is monstrous sin A beggar to lie in rags so thin! An old gray-beard and the frost so keen: I shall give him my fur-lined gaberdine.” He stripped off his gaberdine of scarlet And wrapped it round the aged varlet, Who clutched at the folds with a muttered curse, Quaking and chattering seven times worse. Said Edward, “Sir, it would seem you freeze Most bitter at your extremities. Here are gloves and shoes and stockings also, That warm upon your way you may go.” The man took stocking and shoe and glove, Blaspheming Christ our Saviour’s love, Yet seemed to find but little relief, Shaking and shivering like a leaf. Said the saint again, “I have no great riches, Yet take this tunic, take these breeches, My shirt and my vest, take everything, And give due thanks to Jesus the King.” The saint stood naked upon the snow Long miles from where he was lodged at Bowe, Praying, “O God! my faith, it grows faint! This would try the temper of any saint. “Make clean my heart, Almighty, I pray, And drive these sinful thoughts away. Make clean my heart if it be Thy will, This old rascals is shivering still!” He stooped, he touched the beggar man’s shoulder; He asked him did the frost nip colder? “Frost!” said the beggar, “no, stupid lad! ’Tis the palsy makes me shiver so bad.” |
| POETS' PORCH P. JONES MANKIND THE SHIVERING BEGGAR GREAT RESOURCES BELOW |
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| NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to mobilize individuals and the nonprofit, profit and public sectors of society to end homelessness. The Alliance represents a united effort to attack the root causes of homelessness and fight society's acceptance of homelessness as an inevitable by-product of American life. RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION - Help and Hope for the Homeless and the Hurting The Mission is a faith-based non-profit agency in Raleigh, NC, serving men, women, and families (women with children, fathers with children, and intact families). The Mission provides the basics of food, shelter, educational, and vocational training to the homeless and persons of low income. Another goal of the Mission is to prevent homelessness from re-occurring through short and long-term programs that challenge a person to deal with the issues that often have led to being homeless or in crises. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO END HOMELESSNESS Educate ... yourself, your family, friends, colleagues, and community on the causes, statistics, and solutions to homelessness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Advocate ... for policies and programs that effectively serve homeless people on the local, state, and federal levels. Support plans that will create more affordable housing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ask ... when you donate goods and services. Find out what homeless people and service providers could really use. Don't assume that the familiar general categories of donations represent a one-size-fits-all solution to homelessness - every human being has individual personal and professional needs that, when met, will direct them on the road to success. ... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Volunteer ... your time and ideas to programs within your community - and beyond. We recommend: Plan activities for homeless families and children. Train homeless individuals for employment. Work at a nearby housing organization. Register homeless people to vote... __________________________________________________________________ MEALS ON WHEELS To promote the dignity and independence of the disabled, the elderly, and other homebound persons by delivering nutritious meals and coordinating needed services". __________________________________________________________________ |
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