A Publication of the Coalition on Homelessness
SUBTRACTED
by Dee Allen
Sisters aren’t valued
In this world of ours
Seen nowhere on the streets
Not the hospitals, malls or bars
Because they’re
Missing
Subtracted
From the city
Headcount cut down in size.
Sisters aren’t respected
In this world of ours
Yet their kin are fraught w/ worry.
by Tariq Johnson
It is a time of Reflection to sharpen my perception of who I am and where I come from. The struggles that my ancestors went through, to overcome the obstacles of racism and achieve their goals. So the positive definition of the word N-I-G-G-A could and would become: Never Ignorant – Getting – Goals Achieved.
I am 58 years old, born in 1964 when Black Power really meant something to my people.
Make the change
Give your change
Lend a helping hand
Buy a meal
Feed the soul
Don’t feed me the processed
Feed me the organic truth
The fiber, the greens
The antioxidants to give me life
Make the change
Give your change
Read me a lyric,a story
What’s your story?
Can you smile that it makes me want to dance and sing To perform art,
by Aaone Enose
My proud ego is yelling revenge,
But I know forgiveness is the best!
I don’t want to jeopardize good things I’ve accomplished,
Lord please remove this devil from my ear that’s evil and toxic!
I forgive my sister who stabbed me in San Francisco with a knife,
I’m just grateful Lord that you didn’t allow her to take my life!
by Dan Hoeweler
To my quad-processing binary
Turing machine,
To my machine language
Interpreter,
To My discrete algorithm
Analyzer,
To my multi-thread
Processing module,
Your cache
Your chassis
Your solid state drive
Your motherboard
Electrify my cerebral pathways
In ways that no programming language
Can express.
There is no limit to the depth a man may fall
Listen to the man laying on the floor defeated
For he has wisdom to share
And a story to tell
Misery is intoxicating
A shadow so dark
Cast by a bright red sun
Ever present, forever constant
Blanketing me with grief
Bedding me in pain
A pauper rich only in emotions
Until there is no more,
We are devastated to learn about the loss of Eric E-Tee, a longtime Street Sheet vendor beloved by many. Eric, known to many as E-Tee, lived here in San Francisco since he was 27 years old. E-Tee sold the Street Sheet since 1989, when it was only one sheet of paper. He usually sold the paper outside of Peet’s Coffee on the corner of Van Ness and Turk, wearing his distinctive gray fedora.
Sunlight through a cloud
Bleaches the bones of
Something small,
And long forgotten.
Reflecting on a
Silver strand in
My dark hair,
While a cruel wind
Masks as warmth.
So many lives
I have lived,
So much happiness
I have feigned
In the month
Of dust and lies.
I’m ready for something new, with someone that’s true. I’m ready for you. I’m ready to make a change, and do new things, yes my love, I’m ready to get back in the game. I’m ready to make a new friend and to make plans to dance, romance, and together we can build finance. I’m to love and be loved, so I can love you, hug you, kiss you, squeeze you, and also please you,
Let’s look at how it all began
Because nobody knows how it’s gonna end
So let’s strive to do the best we can
In this crazy, mixed-up world we live in
God is my witness and my best friend
In this crazy, mixed-up world we live in
I gotta breathe and be grateful for every breath
Because the only thing promised in life is death
We have to struggle to survive,
