Homelessness - not just a word

A new culture has arrived in North America - Homelessness. From the heights of success in many cases, a person could, over a period of time fall from the gravy to a life of survival in the streets of many towns and cities. Without a home, job nor friends, life can be a disaster. And a new lifestyle can become the normal. Finding a place where there is electricity, a warm bath and sharing each day with a good meal beside someone you love can be a far-reaching goal and a job can be just a  dream. These poems reflect the challenges and difficulties to overcome this stage in life - homelessness.   

The Anvil

For a few moments a shiver of cold tap-dances across my chest and thankful the weight from new street treasures press down on my homeless body. Am I...

Cold Night for a Homeless Man

So cold my legs they should be like fire not almost frozen baby blanket stolen the only contact I had with my mother the child in me – remembering...
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A Candle for the Homeless

No more cuppa coffees already had two caffeine just too much- hard to sleep on empty ‘cause picking’ too slim. Not able to collect enough bread for a...

The Watching

From our eating area front of Toronto City Hall we paused in our conversation seeing an older man devouring leftover fries and a bite of bun...

Everyone Loves Harry

He’s the friendliest lad on the block- thank you sir when someone hands him a fiver and good day mum as he tips his toque- rather warm this sunny day...
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Streetwise

Walking the streets towing hunger ain’t no fun – especially when you’re on the run. Hope the cops don’t get me just ‘cause I hoisted some food from...
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A Spasm of Storm

assaulted our windows as we tried to view an excellent Tv program- the rain now pelting strongly & pooling rapidly on our front parking lot- the...
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Don't Worry

Don’t Worry good folks – it really ain’t so bad living on the street (except for rain & snow) someone said an old lady like me should be home...

A Hitch-Hiking Man 1962

I am parallel to any highway of leftover towns from a loving family long – long ago the trees are my guideposts & I follow whichever way they...

Everywhere to Go

The street no place for a homeless lady- kicked out not a delight for a wayward teen long ago- still strutting independence.

Bathe

the sky just the way I like it illuminated as a street corner in a little village down the hill a light for wayward drifters needing direction to the...

Stronghold

The smell of aloneness filters through her homeless bones as winter flings one last windy chill- Spring flowers on the way.

Free Spirit

She bathes herself in the warmth of sun homeless on the streets grey haired lady not interested in an apt. nor in-house rules happy to be her own...
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A Matter of Opinion

And in her mindset she suffers for them- her sister has a glitzy car brother with more than a pocketful of dimes and she is homeless on the street...
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