Small talk at 105 17th St. & New Horizon Ave.
by Gary Bond
I ache ridiculously...
while it is perfectly legitimate and proper
to memorialize those that die each year from exposure
and lack of medical treatment--some18,000 each year--
it is redundant
and I ache ridiculously
when I saw the notices on the back of Toledo Streets
and learned of an appearance by the big three--
I thought of the movie The 300
and a battle whaling against windmills, HMOs, pharmaceutical companies,
and seemingly insurmountable obstacles
and against all odds
how we would prevail--
and I came to this--
this summit-- because I have faith that can move mountains
and love that keeps no record of wrongs
but still, I must be honest with you
I ache ridiculously...
when every day became the longest night of the year--
when in my selfishness
having beaten back addiction--
and thinking the struggle over--
only to find a global struggle
against social injustice
against racial injustice
against hatred
against inhumanity
against poverty
and I have to be honest with you...
I ache ridiculously...
If only I could fit my life's time into this hour
that I might not ever see another human being go hungry
or be without shelter--
that I would never have to know of a child being abandoned
or denied an education
and perpetuating this vicious cycle of self destruction
that not one more of us ever die of exposure,
or because we couldn't get a treatment approved
or a prescription filled
that there be no more hate crimes
against the homeless
against senior citizens
against our sensibilities
against our God...
I ache ridiculously
It is a dull and constant aching
soothed only by the love in the room--
by my small army of friends--
by my brother's keeper.
(This poem was presented at Toledo's 2009 Homeless Person's Memorial. Gary Bond is a vendor for Toledo Streets newspaper.)
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