Mr. Sunrise

He lays his head upon the pavement,
For the first time in his life.
Just off the highway exit
On the corner of 8th and Sunrise.
Mr. Bright Eyes, they called him.
So young and alive,
With a diploma and a dream
To better himself inside.
He had everything he needed
And goals to succeed someday.
He stepped onto the campus.
And was well on his way.
But now he lies here, cold.
Alone.
And with nothing.
He lost it all in an instant
And society watched him in awe.
Tuition’s too high.
And The Government cut his funding.
Couldn’t find a decent job
And As citizens we did nothing.
Except place our faith in the system
To sort him out on its own.
After all, it’s what we paid for,
The shelters, the loans.
The food donated to the helpless
Who lost their place to go.
I saw him one time
Driving down I-5 ,
Shivering in the rain
Dutifully holding a sign.
Praying for miracle
As cars pass him by.
I brought him some coffee
And an umbrella today.
Hoping for a smile
To cross his aging face.
And it did, for an instant.
As tears filled his eyes.
And he told the story
Of Mr. Sunrise

Venice Renee-Lynn Hughes

All I Want Is A Door

I no longer remember a place called home
Or the last time anyone was welcomed at my door
Who knew these memories be the ones I miss.
As I wonder these streets all alone
What made me laugh doesn’t anymore
For I been reduced to nothing more than this

Homeless, and nothing more than this
This box, the only place I can consider my home
Been so long, I don’t count the days anymore
I just sit here begging, praying for a door
To shelter me from the heat, cold, and being alone
If I ever made it out, this box I will not miss

Strangers do ask me what it is I miss
As if there has to be something much more than this
As if there is a cure to being abandoned alone
And how I may not have a roof, but I have a home
And I ask “do you know the value of a door?”
Because you will, once you don’t have it anymore

Those days I just don’t want to be here anymore
It stirs up these feelings I long for and miss
Never thought I’d be one to darken a door
This was not my choice, I didn’t ask for this
To stand here begging for food in front of a home
Belonging to a family who wish I’d leave them alone

But what do they know of being alone?
Or how it feels to be told “Scum! don’t come back anymore!”
Or what it means to really have a home
How it feels to have memories of simplicity to truly miss.
I’d wish this on no one, even they don’t deserve this
I know I now understand the value of a door

I believe we all take for granted the luxury of a door
And what it really means to be forgotten, to be alone
I pray there is a life for me beyond this
Because I just can’t take the pain anymore
I want to hold everything I miss
I want the warm embrace of a home

I’m tired of being alone, I don’t want this anymore
I want to leave this box I call a home, I want the one I miss
All I really want is this; All I really ask for is a door

Venice Hughes

It’s More an Opportunity

Look

Look there,

Do you see?

Do you see it?

It’s everything you dream

The land of possibility

Don’t think of what befell us as a curse

Think of it as more of an Opportunity

To explore the unknown and call it home

Rest our heads wherever we please

Since we have each other

What else could we

Possibly

Want or

Need

Venice Renee-Lynn Hughes

No Rhyme, just form

Don’t Pass Us By

You
See us,
Yet you just,
Tread right on by
While we stand here in lust,
Longing, begging, hell, even cry
For one simple word, for one little “hi”
For someone, anyone, to hear us out in lieu
Of judgment passed through society’s eye.
We long for a Savior in time
As we bathe in disgust
Help us survive
This unjust.
Push us
Through

Venice Hughes

The Shelter

The streets are cleaner than the shelter
That’s why I’d rather be outside
Bearing the coldest weather
Just me myself and I
“It’s better than not”
That’s what they say
Forget that
I won’t

Stay

Venice Hughes