An abandoned shopping cart, the store name nearly obliterated by time and weather, laid on its side in the ditch. A random motorist might notice it, but none stopped to claim it.
Its current owner, watching the rain wash away the daily detritus from its wire frame, would have fought anyone who touched it. He crouched beneath the nearby highway overpass, out of the wind and cold. All his worldly possession piled beside him, wrapped tightly in black plastic bags.
When the sun returned to the sky, as water evaporated back into the clouds, and more rust grew on the metal giving it a rich patina, the plastic bags were returned to the cart and its owner continued on his way.
No direction, and no plans other than to find shelter when it became dark and food when he grew hungry.
The absence of a sound mind was a kindness. Memories of family and friends replaced by a sense of survival, a drive to keep moving. Only, he doesn’t know if it’s towards or away from something.
Trifecta, a weekly one-word prompt, challenges writers to use that word in its third definition form, using no less than 33 words or no more than 333. The week’s prompt is: Absence [noun \ ab-sən(t)s\ ] 3: want, lack
*Trivia: This is my 600th post… now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Photograph and writing both excellent. Great visual piece. I could smell the water, the wet dirt, and feel the emptiness of not knowing direction – towards or away from something. Stunning. Thanks for sharing.
Love this. LOVE the picture!
Holy cow, this was gorgeous, Tara. Really moving response to the promp. You paint a really rich picture.
Quick concrit, and only offered because I never see typos on your work, second paragraph “it’s” should be “its” and did you want to pluralize possession?
Loved this. Thanks for linking up.
Beautiful photo and writing, Tara. I am inclined to agree with you – the lack of a sound mind almost balances out the hopelessness of his situation.
So much to love about this piece. You’ve captured a moment of beauty in an ugly situation, blending the two perfectly at the very end. Thank you.
Very amazing piece.
A day in the life . . . I always wonder where they’re going . . . very well imagined! :D
Sad and intense, but lovely. I often think that dementia would be like that, with all the memories washed away and only the present before you.
Your words…your pictures…stunning.
This is terrific, Tara. I love the description of the cart; the rain returning to the sky.
Dark and compelling. Great job Tara!
And congrats on post 600. I hit 500 3 posts ago, didn’t even realize it LOL
You painted a very vivid picture.
I love the way the picture is of the under-interstate home, not the shopping cart. The writing is superb, as well.
Nicely written. What most people don’t know is that shopping carts are actually very expensive. He actually has quite a treasure.
This was so perfectly captured. It fits exactly with so much of the issues that so many homeless have. This would be a wonderful introduction on so many homeless advocacy websites. What a beautifully written piece.
This sums up the plight of the homeless very well. The focused detail of that shopping cart is a great symbol of what this man’s life has become.
I agree with all of the above, having watched many many people walking the streets with their shopping carts i would say too that there would be a kindness in some absence.. c
Wow I really love this :D And the photo is fantastic too :D
This story was sad, but beautifully written. Perfect picture for it, by the way.
You caught the pathos of your “hero” veery well. And the photo is terrific. Congratulations of your 600th post.
Tara.. this was beautiful.. The photograph was amazing as well.
Oh. Wow.
Just wow.
The shot, the writing.
Wow.