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
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