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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2016)
S tre e t R o o ts • A p ril 8 -1 4 , 2 0 1 6 Poetry P a g e 14 Sitting on the Steps Untitled By Tony Boone By Aileen McPherson Sitting on the steps behind the Stumptown is my wind down; my beer at the end of a day. Sounds good. Well the sounds I hear sometimes are the Voices of bigots. These voices don’t use the words we have all heard to disparage people of color, gays, religion or class. No these words seem to have no detractors just the choir. It’s probably you. I can almost guarantee you have participated in this form of hate on sight, because I have, and I am one. The homeless. I am not a junkie. I don’t steal and actually work probably more hours a week than most of you! So please the next time you see me get to know me, then hate me. A break, a break, My Life for a break. Was asking that a mistake? Or the Start of a Remake? Body Strong, mind almost gone, a break I asked for, a Break I got Should have been clear, be careful what you wish for here. All the barriers are gone, the evil inside is free to Roam, Now I must go on, this time I’m not alone. This Break I can Retake, What was Lost is now found, No Longer Hidden, No Longer Bound. H om elessness by Jerrick Harrenstein Homelessness often causes hopelessness. I used to tell myself I must be on the forever list. I stay the course every day; I bow my head and I pray, I stop by TPI and check my mail, anxiously hoping for the letter. Will it be there today? Day after day. Keep your head up, don’t ever give up, follow through. Time takes time, and if you keep on trying and stay focused on living and loving life, the letter will find you too. C a re O re g o rr goMobileteam w/"$weetTh; lenanne Syte Milter & Sara OHP Navigation Clinics CareOregon and our partners make Oregon Health Plan navigation easy! Terry Robb We offer help with: • Medicaid medical, dental and mental health appointments • Medicare eligibility for disabled and elderly adults Find us at these locations: Belmont Library 6pm ~ 12am (doors open a t 5:30pm) North Portland Eagle's Lodge FOE 3426 7611 N. Exeter Ave. »FREE PARKING Saturday A benefit fo r Health Care fo r All - Oregon j faceboote.com/healingthehealtheareblues ) heao.org 1038 Cesar Chavez Blvd April 21..... 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Bud Clark Commons 665 NW Hoyt Avenue April 13...... 8 a.m.-10a.m. April 27...... 8 a.m.-10 a.m. City Team Portland MORgt INK 526 SE Grand Avenue April 20...... 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Clackamas County Transition Center 2223 Kaen Road Oregon City April 05....... 1 p.m.-3 p.m. April 20....... 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Portland Rescue Mission •111 W Burnside April 07....... 8 April 14.;. . . . . . 8 April 21....... 8 April 28....... 8 a.m.-10 a.m. a.m.-10 a.m. a.m.-10 a.m. a.m.-10 a.m. Union Gospel Mission 3 SW 3rd Avenue April 19....... 2 p.m.-4 p.m. April 26....... 2 p.m.-4 p.m,
