The following is a poem written by a friend of mine, David Thwaites. David and I served together on the leadership team at Covenant Community Church in Orangeville. During my time there I connected with David's son Bryan; a teenager at the time who has spend the better part of his teenage years and now his entire adult life battling addiction, mental health issues and the abuse of living on the streets.
In David's words, I hope this poem...gives you pause the next time you see a homeless person, not because this guilts you but because you have the potential to be the person who makes a difference in that person's life. Thanks for reading.
In David's words, I hope this poem...gives you pause the next time you see a homeless person, not because this guilts you but because you have the potential to be the person who makes a difference in that person's life. Thanks for reading.
I stumbled as I crossed the street, my belongings in a bag
I slept upon the darkened park bench, the wind and cold set in my bones
I curled upon the street vent with an empty bottle as my pillow
I sat with vacant eyes dulled by thoughts that were all random
Who do you see when you look at me, refuse in a corner?
Do you see the voices screeching within my mind?
Do you see the pain of my abuse and the anger burning within me?
Do you see my brain melted by the calming drugs both the illicit and the legal?
Do you see my scrambled mind from beatings that left me disabled?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Who do you see when you look at me, a life whose worth is long forgotten?
Do you see my inward pain struggling for release?
Do you see my rejection as the doors of help are shut on me, my resources all depleted?
Do you see the loss of hope etched in the dirt and smell about me?
Do you see the loss of pride, my shoulders and eyes despairing?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Who do you see when you look at me, a man without a past?
Do you see the little boy who ran with joy abounded?
Do you see the child who raced on skates and scored the goals with hope galore?
Do you see the young man who had the potential to serve those in need?
Do you see someone’s son, gone missing in action?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Do you see a child of God with potential to love and serve?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Please see the child I am
I slept upon the darkened park bench, the wind and cold set in my bones
I curled upon the street vent with an empty bottle as my pillow
I sat with vacant eyes dulled by thoughts that were all random
Who do you see when you look at me, refuse in a corner?
Do you see the voices screeching within my mind?
Do you see the pain of my abuse and the anger burning within me?
Do you see my brain melted by the calming drugs both the illicit and the legal?
Do you see my scrambled mind from beatings that left me disabled?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Who do you see when you look at me, a life whose worth is long forgotten?
Do you see my inward pain struggling for release?
Do you see my rejection as the doors of help are shut on me, my resources all depleted?
Do you see the loss of hope etched in the dirt and smell about me?
Do you see the loss of pride, my shoulders and eyes despairing?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Who do you see when you look at me, a man without a past?
Do you see the little boy who ran with joy abounded?
Do you see the child who raced on skates and scored the goals with hope galore?
Do you see the young man who had the potential to serve those in need?
Do you see someone’s son, gone missing in action?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Do you see a child of God with potential to love and serve?
Who do you see when you look at me?
Please see the child I am
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