I took another walk through Skid Rowe this time for two days in a row. This was because I posted a message on the light posts interpreted after my own war “Out There”. Guess it is good for me to stay focused with memories of what I now call “YESTERDAY”. I will be visiting Skid Rowe again to post more of my thoughts and what I know is a message to all involved especially the dominate cultural entity suffering this part of life:

HOMELESS BASICS IN EVERY AMERICAN CITY

May I remind America of the levels in this progressing world call Homelessness?

Downtown cities is where the base of this degradation of human life seems endless.

Tints, carts, cardboard and all such survival gear can be seen for blocks at a time.

Is such the result of the few help centers and shelters who, because of being full to capacity, must now decline?

One night is all it takes to brew a scent that stings with reek.

Add seven days a week to such a stinkin' heap;

And the problems of those without a home grows oh so deep

Every doorway is occupied.

There is no place to hide.

On most downtown streets

Can be found "Pete",

In his bare feet,

Wrapped up in a dirty old sheet,

Looking very meek,

Holding a sign asking for a donation treat.

Business people and other successful careers take pride in their attire and groom.

Homeless on the other hand assume:

dirty dreads, untrimmed beards, old clothing less any hygiene consumed

Every waking day all in doom

With a positive outlook on life seen no time soon.

The bulk of panhandling, collecting recyclables and living a homeless life is easily found all round town.

At night there can be seen for blocks

The thousands who flock

Like ships in New York's east or Seattle's west coast docks.

Turning any city into a huge dorm

Until another morning is born.

When it is merchants must wash, disinfect and sanitize

So that sales can again be recognized.

In America this is everyday life

Who endure the bulk of such strife.

To survive is knowing how to stay alive

Even if one must do a head-first dive

Into a garbage can to keep from being deprived

Of food, recyclables and whatever he or she can find.

Be careful of all the disease left behind.

Take the bus or jump on the subway for outer areas of the downtown core;

And homelessness continues on even more.

While on the subway

There is heard someone reciting his or her essay

Concerning having no place to stay.

And due to mainly inflation

They continue to ask for a donation.

A covered bus stop is a great spot

For a snooze homeless can easily cop.

Freeway bridges provide a place of relief from another rainy day.

Under these bridges is where more of this society must lay.

Recyclables in the rural areas are a giant part of this breed.

As seen by carts from the supermarkets filled with plastics, cans, bottles and things on its way to be redeemed.

Passing by an ad on a bus stop bench there is encouraged recycling.

Without note of protecting those bare-handed Americans from disease.

Society's hierarchy is indeed mean.

Contrary to the majority;

This homeless progressive reality;

Is a big part of any American city;

With upper classes having little or no compassion and as well no pity;

Others looking at the business end of such an entity;

Leaving little room for any homeless dignity.

THE DREAM TODAY

AFTER DR. KING

Hey you at twelve, thirteen, older and even older years?

You with your locked down magnificent dreads and new era attire beginning to unfold in your new unseen lives with you.

You who have nobody but each other in such early stages of wealth in a life that only turn into an ugly debt in the name of 'Gangs'.

You who are indeed the very capable, faithful and wanted entity to become what you really are; if indeed momma and/or daddy preached any of yesterday's Black Power, Pride and Peace to you and what it really be about.

You who continue not to fall short of the plan that is keeping us down - a plan termed today as 'New Era Slavery'.

You who continue to let such a psychological game of yesterday's hate and violence become invested among what should be a wealth of love and understanding for all the suffering we have already done.

Instead you make plans to spread more hate and violence among yourselves leading to nothing but the day of slaughter while it is watched, endured and savored by what continues to be the dominate ruling power on these greedy grazing lands.

You, I wonder if you ever heard those like the Eighth Wonder, Michael Jackson, Donny Hathaway or Marvin Gaye speak out in song about seeing what is really going on?

Yah you, our name is ‘Nobody’.  We live in our homes the size of matchboxes. Roaches continue to dwell with us wall to wall. The hierarchy have killed all our leaders; but we don't have to do nothing to them for they may indeed have caused America The Great its own destruction.

You, our Black Power, were supposed to be one of the strongest foreseen among the peoples of this so-called great United States and the world in building something real, honest and full of positive wealth we could all relish.

Instead it seems the psychological pattern of the 'BLAST', the psychology of using our supposed heritage from overseas helping to create the success of the ruling power's plan, the hate and violence it has caused among what use to be a wealth of love as a Black People and the obvious time line used now against us in this great U.S. are all blocking the beauty and magnificence of our dreads and its Blackness that hold something real among us.

You in the ghetto having given education back to your own real knowledge live today in ignorance as well as the pain and suffering felt again by the tools used in this hard life today to only survive. A tool used by the hierarchy to again rule.

It is wondered if you may have found at your early stages of what is still life, how it is we continue to suffer and how such a pattern in life continues to spread more and more weak and contaminated roots as our generations and new eras of life continue on.

Hey you; is it really true how so many of us must suffer so that those in Spelman, Morehouse and Clark can succeed?

You! Does the name Martin Luther King mean anything today?  Do the names Malcolm X or Rosa Parks not to forget Fredrick Douglas and the many in our plight for Civil Rights and the right to live mean anything to you who continue, again and again, to suffer?

This pain hurts; my heart bleeds just a bit too much to carry on in such sadness without making at least this plea.

HEY YOU !   WHAT DO WE ! !    DO ? ?