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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 2012)
street roots 14 Sept. 14, 2012 In The Darkness Homeless By Marc Cordova By Leo Rhodes It’s cold outside, and sometimes it rains And all I have is a light coat. Sitting in my place I can hear the people outside Their laughter is loud and clear over their muffled words It reminds me of many a nights out on the streets Many times I worried if I were safe Trying to stay awake until they leave was useless I was too tired from the nights and days before Mentally drained from not enough sleep Physically drained from walking and carrying my bags all day long Pointlessly existing As the dark cloud hangs over my head I remind myself It’s just another day in paradise My feet hurt because I walk a lot, and I don’t even own a pair of shoes, I have to use the bathroom but nobody will let me use theirs without purchasing something, and I’m broke because I’m homeless. So I go off to find a place to take a much needed shit I don’t care if people see me, let them watch, I don’t have no shame. I’m hungry but can’t go into a restaurant because I don’t have shoes, and I’m homeless. I smell really bad because I haven’t had a bath in months, will I ever find the right one for me to cure my loneliness? I miss my mom, I haven’t met my dad. I have eighteen children and never even met them, bet maybe somewhere they’re doing better than me. I guess I will go panhandling, I ain’t proud to beg. People just walk by me. They don’t even look at me, like I’m not even there Like I’m just the dirt you sweep under your rug and forget about. I’m so hungry right now, there wasn’t much luck begging today. I look down and see a piece food on the sidewalk, so I eat it, and it was good. Well it’s cold and I’m tired, guess I’ll try to find a dry place to sleep tonight, maybe tomorrow I’ll have better luck, my heart is heavy and my outlook is glum. So why is there no hope for me you ask? For I am an abandoned stray dog. Dignity Poverty O ver 6 m illion people w orldw ide vote f or dignity over poverty w hen they b u y street press. By doing so, th ey help vendors in 40 countries, selling over iOO different titles, to change th e ir lives. In retu rn , readers enjoy quality, independent jo u rn alism , in the know ledge th a t th e y ’ve m ade a difference. Vote for Dignity. International Network at Street Papers The laughter and muffled words Remind me of the times I spent in indoor shelters and tent cities Watching the couples pair off Their love for one another Their bond and support for one another Watching the single people With their strong will to survive It’s beautiful to see all of them work together To encourage, support and help one another Then there are those that have been through a lot Watching them well I know and feel their pain In the darkness I sit here by myself Many thoughts going through my mind The good the bad the ugly Many times in the cold, in the rain, in the snow, in the countless meetings and hot days and nights I wished for my own place And now I have my own place Away from but so far from the world I used to know
