In Berkeley
by Claire J. Baker
Anthropologists study
street people, find them
humane, kindly, humble —
a dog in lap, parrot on a
shoulder, a young man
sleeping, curled like a baby.
A raggedy baseball cap
silvered with small coins.
Passing poets wonder:
Is it unlawful to be human?
But lawful to be inhumane?
Kafka by the Bay
by George Wynn
There are many gifted
men and women —
but homeless
One day they
wake up without
job and habitat
trouble takes on
a life of its own
just like that
Everything becomes negative
they become labeled
(ABCD) alcoholic,
badass, crazy or dirty
If society can make
everything their fault
they do
Wet with sweat
in the middle
of the night
they scream
“I need air I
can’t breathe”
thinking this
must all be
a dream
Hard to imagine
this could happen
to you or me
but in the City
by the Bay
many say
it can and did
Their lives
gone to waste
if only they
could see hope
reach out
touch it
get a taste!
Something in Common
by George Wynn
His father’s been
on the street a long time
and battered by it
The son thinks
his father will never
find a place to live
Home used to be
the two of them together
Now they’re both
out on the street
Exposure
by Joan Clair
The exposure of homelessness is not pretty
unless it evokes the compassionate heart.
The compassionate heart when it is evoked
is as pretty as She intended it.
Therefore, let us give thanks
to anyone who evokes in us
one drop of pure love,
a rare “commodity” in the universe.
Street Album
by Claire J. Baker
Wish all possessed
a photograph of
the moment
someone’s eyes
meet our own —
that silvery silence
when both accept,
let be.
Heart Universal
by Joan Clair
In no other heart
do I belong.
Heart universal
is my home.
Gimme Some Truth
“I’ve had enough of reading things by neurotic psychotic pigheaded politicians.
All I want is the truth, just give me some truth.” — John Lennon
“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered…. I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies…. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” — Thomas Jefferson
“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” — Mark Twain
Drop Your Heads and Weep
by Judy Joy Jones
drop your heads and weep
for the homeless
found frozen on the streets
while we laid
in our cozy little beds
all warm and fed
with dollar signs
dancin’ thru our heads
who will hear our own
blood curdling screams
as we die freezing
on the streets
will one person leave
their warm homes
to claim our no-name bodies
at the city morgue’s doors
oh people
please drop your heads
and weep
and weep
and weep
for the homeless
found frozen
all over our streets