Social Work Inspired Assortment

8/8/2019 Social Work Inspired Assortment

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You call this your street

Because you let her kiss your feet as you walk past

Well honey,

This is really his street

He knows every crack and crevice

In her face

She is his pillow

When cardboard can't be found

You say that this is your street

Because she has supported your tires

For the last 30 years

Well baby,

This is really his street

She's been his only constant support

And when the wells run dry

She offers her puddles

You may dig her up,

Chip away and give her more wrinkles

Contort her body

And shape it for your purpose

But you'll realize,

This is his street

9/6/07

Num63r

He's a little scruffy around the chin

And his odor isn't pleasing

But his eyes are deep blue pools

And they drink you in



His voice is soft and mild

He doesn't want your change

He's on 3 waiting lists

He's 27, 56, and 72

He's 6"1'

He's got a number in every federal building

And the state knows him 2

He's a number

Not a meta-4

His earnest eyes will tell you

There's a feeling person

Below this categorized skin surface

And the perpetual role call

Called his life

His eyes tell you the tale

Not written in his charts

Not labeled by number

And diagram

Not statistically

His eyes speak what his lips do not

But he's just a number

Waiting on the corner

For 7

When the lottery numbers are called

To see if he's a winner

At the Portland Rescue Mission

9/6/07



Hurried Lines

Hurry up and wait

Ran 6 blocks to stand in line

Hurry up and wait

Food's half warm

But it'll hit the spot

Hurry up and wait

One hour to burn

Walked 8 blocks

Hurry up and wait

Stood in line

The nice man said "son, try again tomorrow"

Hurry up and wait

Crawled in the metal box

Found some treasures

To set up a traveler's home

Hurry up and wait

Stood in lines

For food

For clothing

For shelter

And they all said

Hurry up and wait

Not today

Return next week

You'll have to

Hurry up and wait



9/7/07

The Panhandler

got my pack on my back

and music in my heart

I'm gonna be just fine

The number of foot prints

Keep a changin'

So I know

It'll all be alright

Got a smile on my face

And change in my cup

I'm gonna be just fine

9/7/07

Change

Hey pretty girl,

Can you spare some change

I'm just a weary veteran

Trying to make it through the day

You see, my brain's a mess

Because I keep seeing

My friends, my self created "family"

And hearing their screams

When a car back-fires

I close my eyes and cover my ears

Can't close out the sound

Of rapid gun fire



I tried to make a difference

Fighting for what is right

Serving the only way

I knew how

I tried to make a change

Hey pretty girl

Can I have a minute of your time

I'm sure you have some place to be

I've seen you downtown

rushing from one place to the next

Wonderin' if you'll make a change

Or do you let things keep on goin'

The way this world seems to be taking

And taking and taking

I gave my leg,

And now I sit here to ask

Hey pretty girl

Let's work together

Make a change

9/7/07

Passerby

His face feels scratchy

There's dirt upon his skin

He grooms himself as best he can

Straightens his back

And begins to saunter

Or rather he tries



But his dear old knees can't keep up

He walks as gracefully as he can manage

With his three legs

And is careful to hold his chin high

A cup of coffee and the morning paper

Is all this poor chap wishes

He knows just where to go

And sets off at a constant pace

StepStepâ¦ step

StepStepâ¦step

Stepping in tune to the fowl's call

Instead of morning birds however

His ears detect the sounds

Of whispers,

Taunts and jeers

He merrily steps on by

Because he knows

Just around the corner

Is his cup of coffee

And morning paper

9/7/07

(K)nightfall

Darkness crept over him like a blanket

The street lamp's luminescence kept the monsters at bay

A blanket made from recycled cloth wrapped round his feet

Newspapers line his body under his tattered sweater

Providing that added bit of insulation



Whiskey lines his veins giving him that added bit of warmth

And that added bit of indifference

Gets to his spot early so that he can utilize the businessman's awning

To prevent him from getting soaked to the bone

His fingers creak and snap as he pulls his blanket tight

For multipurpose reasoning, his belongings form a pillow

Keeping his head off the cold, hard pavement

The street lamp's glare blocks his view of the night sky

So, there will be no "I wish I may, I wish I mightâ¦"

But, he's comforted by the oddly shaped halo

When the darkness surrounds him,

That single light seems so much brighter

As though-for just one moment-the dark knight is not the victor

12/13/07

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Social Work Inspired Assortment