Two years ago, Annette2009 issued an open call for poetry, the subject of which was homelessness. I submitted  “Government Housing,” a poem that was born out of my experiences working for a local housing authority, administering federal Public Housing apartments.

This afternoon, I received a phone call from a representative of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance. They want to publish my poem in a book that will be sold as a fundraiser. I will receive no monetary remuneration for this, but am gratified that my few words might help someone else.

You show up on Thursday

Every Thursday an unending

Wave of need, hopelessness, homelessness

You’re living in your car

                           your abusive boyfriend’s house

                           your corrugated packing crate

And all you want is a place

To sleep where you can lock the door at
     night.

Keeping the demons at bay

With medication or a bowl of soup

A safer harbor where children can grow

                        where Vietnam doesn’t happen

                        where there is heat and light

All I can give you today is a form

With your name on it,

                                                         documents,

                                                         attachments

And a strand of dignity.

Please sit here and together we’ll find

The threshold of your life.

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