A Poem on Homelessness

Who am I? by Rose Limongi

Who am I?

I am me; humble and alone

I am your son, your daughter, and your ex-

I am your friend, your lover, and a skeleton

I am a woman, a mother, and a child

I am a former CEO, a POW, disabled

I am a genius, an ex-convict, and prostitute

I am a druggie, an alcoholic, mentally ill

I am an annoyance, an embarrassment, and a cheat

I am filthy, robbed of my humanity, beaten down

I am playing the system, faking it (or am I?)

I am choosing to live this way – I could work if I wanted

I am living under bridges, in libraries, dumpsters and cars

I am an angel, a threat, a danger, and a pitiful reminder of failure

I am demanding – begging for leftovers and money

I am despicable for smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol

I am not responsible enough to love others, so you say

I am the person you judge each and every day

I am me; humble and alone.




How many times will people judge me – naked and exposed?

My life and all my worldly goods contained in a sack

My shopping cart filled with your disposable consumer goods

My dining experience is your garbage, dumpster for 1 please

My healthcare is non-existent unless I’m left for dead

My conversations with people are from a distance

My mind aches from watching the haves tip the scales

My soul, no longer intact, has been scorched with hatred

I am me; humble and alone
.


You don’t want to see me, you hate me, and you despise me

You pity me, judge me, curse me, you wish I would go away

You throw money at me in disgust; shout obscenities and sneer

You nearly run me over – justifying the act in your mind

You head to toe me with disgusted eyes then make me invisible

You fear getting too close for smell or threat of crime

You lock your doors; take the safety off your gun beside you

You tell me to “get a fucking job you loser”

You ban me from earning any money on roads

You ban me from public places you enjoy

You deny me my basic civil rights because I lack a home

I am me; humble and alone.



What you don’t realize is this

What I once was and who I have become are irrelevant

What I need matters far more ultimately

Buy me a meal at a fast food restaurant; then sit with me

Talk to me; get to know my story

Keep some easily opened, non-perishable foods in your car

Give me the greatest gift of all - a smile

Remember that I am human, with wants, needs, and desires

Never forget that you too, are one or two paychecks away

From the life you now sit in judgment of

Remember that it is only with each other that we all survive

Alone and apart – we die from spiritual starvation

Souls executed for being nothing more than fallible, human

Extend the hand of love and friendship – invest in me again

Retrieve me from the vast wasteland of solitude and depression

Fertilize my mind with ideas and hope once more

Don’t abandon me when I fail, or fall back on bad habits

Be firm, yet fair – for I am you in one or two paychecks

I am me; humble and alone.

Source: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=108804

PAALS Meeting

PAALS (People of All Ages Looking to Socialize) is planning on meeting during the weekend of April 10-11, and we’re talking about going to the craft show (http://www.hpifestivals.com/). Exact day and time are TBD, so if you’re interested in coming along, please chat with Allison Baugh. PAALS has a small but loyal core group, and is open to…well, people of all ages looking to socialize. We try to meet about once a month, and our current “game plan” is to plan the next month’s activity each time we meet. In May, we’re planning a visit to the zoo late in the month to see the new Madagascar exhibit. All are welcome—come once, or come regularly! For more information, please contact Allison Baugh.

Urban Poverty Blog

One of the many benefits of being active on twitter is that you stumble upon many interesting blogs and articles.

I recently found this one on urban poverty. In the blog post, the author, Megan Cottrell, says that "until you get past $40,000 a year, any raise or higher paying job you get might actually sink you deeper into poverty." I happen to agree with this statement and I find her report interesting.

To read her full story, "Don't Fall in the Poverty Trap-You May Never Get Out," please follow this link: http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/03/30/megan-cottrell-dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-may-never-get-out/

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