In advance of this year’s Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, Urban Pathways and Care For the Homeless put out a call for writing submissions that pays tribute to those that we have lost or addresses the issue of homelessness. Submissions were gathered from those with the lived experience of homelessness, with one selected to be included in the Memorial’s program.
The poem selected was written by Urban Pathways Consumer Advocate, Will Woods, who graciously read the poem during the Memorial. Thank you, Will for sharing these beautiful words.
Poem for Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day 2021
By Will Woods
My heart is heavy
and my soul weeps
such anger and frustration
mired in pure futility
tired of senseless loss…
There is no greater desire
than one’s will to live
so it hurts more when life is lost
a double-edged blade
piercing the veil of our own mortality
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
does indeed creep on in its petty pace
but time is immemorial
life is not
Such infinitely complex
yet futile beings we are
with our expiration date issued at birth
with our taking our next breath for granted
yet forgetting eyes closed in the bliss of sleep
can only be reopened by god’s grace
Blessed be those who riseth on the day
and blessed be those
cradled in the bosom of his memory
Though saddened by loss
the heart is soothed
knowing a soul has been freed
from this mortal coil to his eternal rest
Goodbye mis gentes and good luck and
if you lose your way on this new journey
try to remember
its first star to the right
and straight on till morning
