Rick's Poetry: Homeless

Homeless
(c) May 7, 2001

Have you seen the one
that hangs out by the bin
The trash bin in the alley
the dog that looks too thin

The mutt with dirty paws
and off white scruffy hair
floppy ears of black
with the empty hollow stare

I bet the pooch is homeless
no people friends that care
foraging for scraps
in the city it's not rare

I wonder how it happens
a dog without a home
Just open up the gate
and say you're on your own

For the dog I feel such pity
It's not his fault he's stray
I can see the tear stained fur
beneath wide eyes of gray

What will happen to the dog
Does the catcher know he's here
And what if no one claimed him
That's my biggest fear

Here Boy -- come on over
I'll waste no more time
What the mutt now needs
is a loving home like mine

by Ricky D. McKean

Rick McKean (1962-2011)

Rick McKean graduated a track star from Capital High School in Boise, Idaho. After serving in the U.S. Navy with the construction batallion and operating heavy machinery, and time in abroad in Guam, Rick was honorably discharged and took residence in Oxnard, California, near the naval base.

After working several years in various trades, including light aircraft maintenance, locksmith and auto repair, Rick worked for a paper pulp recycling plant in Oxnard until the late 90s. Expressing his love for the ocean, and despite physical limitations, he took up scuba diving and enjoyed good times with friends exploring the Channel Islands off the Ventura coastline. Rick suffered from depression and alcoholism.

The poetry on this site was written in 2001-2002 while an inmate at California Correctional Facility, Salinas, California. After parole, Rick again took residence in Oxnard, purchased a boat, and lived on the water in Channel Islands Harbor. Continuing his appreciation of nature and the environment, Rick worked in harbor maintenance, patrolling the harbor and collecting/dislodging debris that had washed in from sea.

Rick continued to live on his boat and attend AA meetings and treatment programs, and eventually was issued a driver's license and bought a car. In 2010, he drove his car to his home state of Idaho and visited his family whom he had not seen in many years. Despite numerous physicial limitations, Rick continued to live his life to the fullest extent, including handling nearly all of the maintnenance of his boat/home.

In late 2010, Rick bought a new computer, with the intention to publish these poems online. In January of 2011, Rick suffered an untimely death where he sustained a head injury repairing his boat, lost balance, and fell into the water, and succombed to the cold temperatures.

This blog contains Rick's Poetry.

(c) Ricky Dale McKean 2001, 2001

Rick's Poetry

Homeless - May 7, 2001

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