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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 2017)
Street Roots • Dec 8-14, 2017 Poetry In my eyes by Aileen McPherson Page 13 Street Roots and Steel by Victor de Jarnette The face I love is full of warmth and Kindness, from smooth to fuzzy He is my hubby, gracious, strong, Eyes like the steel blue of Winter skies, his smile says I’ll love you beyond the end of time. The Mythical Phoenix by Bryant King How can we enjoy the lavish thrills of rebirth unless we die some inside now? It is the trickiest time of our life, when our energies are used to resolve the unfinished business. I want to put the past to rest as best we can. Putting on our funniest sad face and pay our last respects to the old ways and old days we will soon be leaving behind! The mythical Phoenix which burns itself down, resurrects from its own ashes! About once a month I see you, Rain or shine, more often rain, There on the sidewalk, selling papers, a diligent, intelligent paper, Outside the store where I sometimes shop, and I always buy from you. You’re there today: earnest, handsome face, Awake, aware, clean, clean-shaven, A working man, dressed for work, Always polite, friendly, a good businessman. I express my appreciation for the quality of the paper, and we start to talk. You’ve been in Portland two years, Come here from heartbreak, broken dreams, a broken life, Not knowing the expense of mere survival on the West Coast. You’ve come from my home state, the town where I went to college. I’m surprised. You don’t have the accent. Your mind is open. I tell you the strange story that led me to this town, Tragedy turned to a new beginning. Rooted in the ground, you tell me of your unfolding life. I’ve been enjoying living in the rain today, another new beginning. We are looking at each other. We shake hands. We are both spring steel, and we both know. You’re covered head to toe. When you’re an Oregon Health Plan member with FamilyCare Health, you get medical, dental, and mental health services all at $ 0 per month. Learn more at www.familycareinc.org/enroll. OHP-FC-17-103
