AFTER BEING HOMELESS AND LIVING ON THE STREET FOR FIVE YEARS
AFTER THE LOSS OF ALL I HAD, I OWE A LOT OF MY RECOVERY TO MY PEERS
AFTER THE TALBERT HOUSE, BETHANY HOUSE AND THE DROP INN CENTER
I FOUND THE OFF THE STREET PROGRAM ONLY THEN DID MY LIFE REMOVE THE BENDER
THEY TAUGHT ME HOW TO COMMUNICATE AND SPEAK WITHOUT DOUBT, FEAR OR SHAME
THEY GAVE ME ALL THE INSIGHT NEEDED AND IF I FAILED ONLY I WOULD BE TO BLAME
I FELT REBORN AND STARTED SINGING AINT NO STOPPING ME NOW AND I STOPPED LOOKING BACK
I FOUND A PLACE OF MY OWN WHERE I COULD BE ALONE AND GET MY LIFE BACK ON TRACK
NEXT I FOUND CINCINNCTI HOMELESS COALTION WHO LIKED AND APPRECIATED MY POETRY
LET ME KNOW THAT I WAS NOT HOMELESS ALONE AND FOR THEM CARING I HAVE LOYALTY
THEY INTRODUCED ME TO THE STREETVIBES PAPER FOR THE CINCINNATI HOMELESS COALITION
SAYING MY BEING HOMELESS MY POETRY NEEDED TO BE SHARED SOUNDS LIKE A MISSION
FINALLY, I FOUND MYSELF ON FINDLAY MARKET WHERE MY LIFE FOUND A NEW DIRECTION
THE DAY THE COALITION TOLD ME THAT FINDLAY MARKET AGREED TO GIVE ME A SECTION
SO MANY NEW FRIENDS, MR. POTTERY MAN, MR. POPCORN MAN AN THE SEASONING LADY
TALKING ABOUT HOW WE ALL MUST PAY BILLS, SAVE MONEY AND BE HAPPY NOW NOT MAYBE
I’VE LEARNED STARTING OVER IS THE WILL WITHIN YOURSELF WHERE THERE IS POWER
WITH THE BELIEF AND FAITH THAT YOU HAVE IN YOURSELF YOU WILL CHANGE HOUR BY HOUR
