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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2018)
Street Roots • May 11 -17, 2018 Poetry Page 13 Voice of Hope by Tina Drake Earthworm Earth Day 2012 by Leonard Cain Loss of heart brings pain and torment A voice that seeks to harm and hurt Each day dragged through the mud, A life not wanted. Each moment a voice speaks inside. Voice louder and louder threatens to kill Strength of voice rises to the surface. New life, new voice, new heart Each day happy and full. Every moment of life lived true. What voice once lost now found, That which was lost now is gained. Heart heals whole yet a body claimed. Creation by one’s own hand Brings calm to the voice of hope. Please, as we celebrate and promote Terra Firma Day Let’s imagine in rhyme what might a lowly earthworm say. Quickly at birth, I popped out of a cocoon womb; No need for to see or hear in my underground room. Scholars call my species lumbricus terrestris; Was reproduced by my species rep, called mister/mistress. Early taught the aphorism, “Early bird gets the worm.” Thus, was taught to be cautious, to wiggle and to squirm. Curiosity led me to observe the enemy robin, My slimy body a-weavin’, my head a -bobbin’. Been told I have a reddish tinge, ‘cause hemoglobin Makes me a gourmet food, for my dread foe robin. We also serve as food for fish and other animals; No evidence that we perform as heartless cannibals. Leave body wastes and eat soil, sand, tiny pebbles; Roam in darkness, make tunnels, behave like rebels. Portland Spring Move through earth beneath the surface, labor hard and toil, Serve persons, bring compost, aerate and drain the soil. by Aileen McPherson I see you there under the cherry blossoms fair a cocoon of despair, lying silent in cold morning air. As the sun shines, eyes hide, burned, blurred, then the rain strains bodies and brains, making depressions drain. Favorite travel to visit vegetable garden; If disturb ant home or beetle bed, ask for pardon. - j While bipolar w eather scream s at every - . . 3 ’. .> ... .. So, d o n ’t say a n o th e r ’s as bad as a m e re e a rth w o rm . passing being, get in, get out, it has NO idea what to do but scream and shout. So, celebrate, as stated, Terra Firma Day. Remember, through time, what might a lowly worm say. Did you serve in the Armed Forces experiencing or at risk of and are io But I’ve never spread disease, carry not one germ. I becoming homeless? Transition Projects Please call 855.425.5544 or visit 650 NW Irving Street
