(Con)tacted: An elegy for thieves

Welcome readers to another one of my blog entries, if you like what you’ve read, then hit the like button, and comment if you want to chime in with anything that can create a conversation in the comment section. Do all those good things that make a page grow. Also, you can support me by following my blog site. This way you’ll be notified when my next blog is published. I am because we are; that’s Ubuntu. As always, peace and keep it real.

It is extremely exhausting to deal with unreasonable people when your intentions come from a practical standpoint. Not to mention, things usually go awry when there is a failure to reach an understanding. From that point onward, it’s best to remove yourself (Honestly, I’m trying my best to change how I react and not take things personally) from any disagreements and discern how to resolve issues or suffer from regrets. That said, I want to preface this poem by saying that disturbing behavior is demonstrated by people every day and we should be aware of it. On top of that, we need to recognize the levels of depravity surrounding us. In other words, I was inspired to write this poem after being acquainted with an individual I had a few business dealings and whose outlook on life is quite frankly revolting. Mind you, it didn’t take long for me to immediately realize that I didn’t want to be involved with any negativity that could potentially ruin my future goals, so we have recently severed ties. Furthermore, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that when people lack self-control they can be easily convinced to participate in activities that could hurt themselves and others. Equally important, let’s be more mindful and careful before embarking on something new because the unknown has hidden dangers that could take advantage of our weaknesses. Anyway, I’ve written enough here, and I’m sure we can all agree that art is subjective and that its interpretations will vary. I believe many readers will conclude that they would not want to be around a person who constantly exudes negative energy. By the way, it’s been a while since I wrote a poem, and honestly, this one in particular took me a few weeks to write. That said, I’m proud to have finished it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. 

(Con)tacted: An elegy for thieves

In a city where shadows fight 

for their place in nightfall’s hierarchy

Lurked a beguiling charlatan, 

He reveled in his victim’s losses

The ones who knew him 

Whispered his name 

And it always lingered on a cold stale breeze,

Tricky Thomas  whose heart held no keys

Always locked, 

Behind his doors, strange people’s memories were hidden

That he could access at any moment for amusement

With a smile like silk on a serpent’s sleek skin,

Thomas slithered his tales, struck with sin’s wicked grin

He never felt tired 

Once he became a master of guile, he sought out the meek,

The naive and the astray were his temptations

A virulent xenophobe, his prejudice ignored the globe 

One after another 

He blamed Uncle Sam for making him feel smothered

By an invasion of the land his ancestors built 

Reparations to him were a fleeting dream

Nothing felt right, so despite the migrant influx

He saw it as a new opportunity

His new favorite prey, immigrants fresh on the street

He held a bible in his right hand

Opened to revelations 

Reciprocating their glee

From sunrise to sunset

He watched them all walk by 

They read his panhandling sign  

I can’t afford medication 

A small donation

Will help relieve the pain in my knees

The ones who were kind to help 

Or should I say brave 

Gave him their time

He’d tell them sweet stories that were covered in deceit

“Come to my office” I’ll let you know about the American Dream

Obese off rapacious motives

He feasted on their hopes 

And robbed all the green from their cards

Each booming laugh he shared with them was exhilarating

Their futures blended up in his lies,

They would bend to his whims, unaware of his guise

He’d lure them with promises

A full-time thief, 

He had no shame

Using their donations to gamble at every game 

Win or Lose

He kept playing the gullible streets 

So he could beat the house 

And then treat himself to something neat

Traversing through alleys, he smiled at the hurt

Empathy’s flame in his chest was inert 

Yet fate, ever fickle and fragile 

Brought a twist to this tale on a frigid, fateful day

One potential victim approached, 

Her eyes beaming with curiosity

A Sri Lakan woman of courage 

The converging dreary sky didn’t scare her

Thomas perceived a flaw in her stance,

She came forward hiding her deadly advance

She was elated to share her story 

He marveled with glee, aroused by the lilt in her voice

Unbeknownst to him, she was not what she’d seem

An undercover cop, with tenacity

She caught all his persuasions and collected his slight

A network of justice, she was woven within,

The tables were turned, a trap set in the night

As authorities encircled Thomas, escape was futile 

Thomas, once hubris in his selfish parade,

Found himself trapped in the web he had made

“Your victims, dear Thomas, are wise to your play,

Now justice will dance on your fortune’s decay.”

With a clink of the cuffs, his world fell apart,

It was open season for his victims to throw their vengeful darts

In a cell locked away, stripped of his charm

He pondered his choices, with no one to disarm

The pain that he once thrived on made him feel strong 

But now it sent him to a place where he belonged 

Eliminated from competing with fellow street shadows

So remember this elegy for thieves, for our hearts hold the keys

The world spins in circles, a dance we all share

And for the deceptive shadows, 

Justice waits to scold them with its dark glare