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