Life on the Streets - This is My Home

Taking a look around the Queen and Ossington area, I saw people eating on the streets, sleeping on the streets and ultimately, living on the streets.  Simply put, this is their home.  They do everything under the roof of mother nature.  Meanwhile, for myself and many other people, we are fortunate to have an actual roof over our heads and walls to protect us from the cold, the rain and the heat.  Walking downtown, I was taking a look into the homes of these people, living through poverty.

This is My Home illustrates the life of the homeless in what they know as their home: the streets.  Outside of this 'home' is a perfect--as close to perfect as it could it--bubble that I live in.  Outside is the sun shining on a bright future that I am blessed with and birds soaring, which one day I will be.  The following poem/choral piece depicts the point of views of two people, one like me, and one that is homeless, and their definition of home.

This is my home

A warm place to return to at the end of the day

Sitting at the corner, nothing to do but to stay

On the sofa, under the warm blanket

I take cover from the icy outside

And the wind blows so cold and ruthless

Cutting the bare skin I failed to hide

This is my home

Sitting at a table filled with food and laughter

Waiting for the smallest anything for dinner

Finishing the last bite, satisfied

Joining the family for our favourite show

Sitting alone, watching them walk by

Praying for something edible to swallow

This is my home

One hot shower to relax and de-stress

Waiting for the rain to clean this mess

Almost ready for bed, but first

A hot cup of tea with a hint of sugar

Lay my head down on the dirt

The only sweetness coming from the big dipper

This is my home

Where I am surrounded by warmth and love

A place that is unknown but I always dreamt of

A mother and father, lovely sister and brother

A family that I belong to forever and always

All alone in a world of strangers

Wonder if I’ll make it to another day

Where I live

Where I stay

Where I’m loved

Where I’m overlooked

That is my home