Times of fear
nights without shelter
shivering to exhaustion
hour after hour.
In the early hours
willing dawn to rush
… time slows down
after midnight.
Lawless hours
of gunshots and sirens
of screeching car chases
and cries for assistance.
Chased away by well-meaning strangers
forced to walk the night away.
Danger rules the obscure streets
evil thrives in darkness.
Suddenly a drifter
carrying my home in my back
long forgotten a pillow’s comfort
resigned to ‘sit-sleeping’.
The privilege of taking
responsibility for my own safety
lost with a door to lock:
my life in the hands of others.
Times of collapsing into sleep
anywhere, everywhere
surrounded by strangers
hoping I will get to wake up again.
nights without shelter
shivering to exhaustion
hour after hour.
In the early hours
willing dawn to rush
… time slows down
after midnight.
Lawless hours
of gunshots and sirens
of screeching car chases
and cries for assistance.
Chased away by well-meaning strangers
forced to walk the night away.
Danger rules the obscure streets
evil thrives in darkness.
Suddenly a drifter
carrying my home in my back
long forgotten a pillow’s comfort
resigned to ‘sit-sleeping’.
The privilege of taking
responsibility for my own safety
lost with a door to lock:
my life in the hands of others.
Times of collapsing into sleep
anywhere, everywhere
surrounded by strangers
hoping I will get to wake up again.
October 17, 2009
