Street Sights

Featured Artist: Herminio Negron

Herminio Negron is this month's featured artist..

Homeless Memorial Service

The annual Homeless Memorial Service was held on January 26 at Beneficent Church in honor of the 48 people who passed away in 2010.

Candidates for Attorney General

RICH Annual Luncheon

Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Jim Ryczek and advocates honored at the RICH annual luncheon.

1st Place Winner

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

deborah shepard

Sovereign Spirit
By Deborah Shepard

In the lost wilderness animals are encountered deep in slumber
Sacred beautiful gifts are shared still, with promised hearts
They returned to dream, to escape solace as silence lay
The lovely lady awakens to rainbow skies, and prays
Elohi~~~~
Mystic spirit in a wolf’s tradition stands proud , straight spine
Each seasonal dress is commemorated with brightness in totems lines
Mesmerizing feathered ornaments in realism days
Stationary for visionary touch
Elohi~~~~~
Intricately woven with care from the blended history
Power of dreams, hand sculptured replicas to be
Guiding spirits reflective states, she sees
Tribal legends wisdom of ages, winter scenic life
Elohi~~~~~~~~
All is quite in night’s glow
Gleaming trails with moonstruck haze
Marbleized stands the lifted spiritual ancestors gulf streams
Blossoms fully in winters totem pole mystic dreams
She will awaken all beauty once again

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

felix perry jpeg

Shore Walk
By: Felix L. Perry

Fog weighs anchor in the harbour,
shroud covering it’s imperfections,
hauntingly distant a bell buoy tolls,
to and fro on ocean’s gentle swell
outbound, a fog horn belches
stirring offended sea birds to flight,
flotsam and jetsam tell a story
only Neptune knows the ending
soul feeling the smell of salt brine,
lost heart yearns, he knows not why,
song lines adrift in a sailor’s minds
facing again, into the Southwest breeze,
resigned, he leaves yesterday behind…

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

Little Girl Lost…
By Felix Perry

Hoar frost coats a Sunday morn scene
day old donuts free but taste good
porridge ladled from a cast iron pot
life stories scratched in table wood
Supermarket cart home on wheels
bottles, rags…little treasures found
long cigarette butts quickly stashed away
need to keep your eyes to the ground
Big cardboard box behind Jo Mac’s Furniture
new shelter from cold North wind blowin
five buck wine from loose change bummed
dull the ache of things best not known
Cheap trick turned in darkened back ally
illegal thrills as he looks down his nose
staunch Sunday morning Christian moans
justification found only Lord he knows
Somewhere mother cries a baby’s name
she’s always listening for the phone
father prays forgiveness on bended knee
thirteen year old runaway dies alone…

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

Jim Conroy

IN THE BEGINNING
By James Conroy

Adam never asked
And we’ve wondered ever since.
As the First
He had the privilege of naming things.
Beasts, Stars, Honeysuckle,
Were called as they moved him.
Adam gave three names
To himself and five more
To Woman. Eve added
One more for herself and never
Told him.
Adam called himself
Hunter, Gatherer, and Woodcutter.
He called Eve
Lover, Mother, Peace, Gazer, and Home.
Adam called the Snake “Deceit” for he
Often mistook it for a branch on the ground
Or a vine in the trees.
Woman called it “Power” because it was not afraid
Of anything larger than itself.
“Say your name,” the Snake tempted Eve.
“Which one?” she asked.
“The one only you know and Man doesn’t.”
“Why should I tell you?” Woman asked.
“With it I can give you Power,” claimed the Snake.
“Go see if Man wants Power,” said Eve,
“It is enough I have to carry his Sins.”

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

THE FIRST LIVING THING
By James Conroy

The first living thing
to place stone upon stone
was probably not human.

The first living thing
to coax sound from inanimate objects
was a musician we wouldn’t recognize.

The first living thing
to see omens in the sky
never filled a sandbag or mounded a levee.

The first living thing
to differentiate sharp from dull
crawled on belly a long way to the edge.

The first living thing
aware lightning causes fire
began moving with the seasons.

The first living thing
afflicted by the burden, canticles,
deluge, and scorch of love
wished it hadn’t, and
knocked the stone, smashed the reed,
drowned in the river, stabbed its heart
and was consumed in joy.

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

joey pennine

Who Am I
By Joey Pennine

The mind that holds
The thoughts
And sends them
To the hand
Which casually
Holds the fluttering
Motion of the pen
Which writes all my hopes
And dreams onto the paper
Which holds the thoughts
And feelings of the words
That together,
In a unique pattern
That creates the poem
Which reveals the inner
Feelings and secrets
Of this person
Known as me…
The Poet
That’s who I am

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

LEFT TOO SOON
By Joey Pennine

ALTHOUGH YOU DIDN’T KNOW
IT WAS YOUR TIME
REMEMBERING YOU
MAKES ME FEEL FINE
LIFE WAS TOO SHORT
YOU WERE TOO YOUNG
TO TAKE A TRIP TO HEAVEN
YOU’LL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS AND SOULS
IN YOUR LIFETIME
YOU COULDN’T COMPLETE YOUR GOALS
EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE NOT
IN OUR HOUSE
I STILL REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES
WE SHARED
LOOK DOWN ON US
AND CRY US A TEAR
WE’LL BE DOWN HERE
HOPING TO SEE YOU STARE
WHEN IT RAINS AND POURS
IT CAN ONLY MEAN
THAT YOU’RE STILL OURS

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

louis rams 2 this one

Why are the Homeless-Homeless?
By Louis Rams

People become homeless because of circumstance
and the cards may be stacked against them
and they don’t have a chance.

A child growing up doesn’t say,
“I want to be homeless when I grow up”
or “I want to be an alcoholic or a junkie.”

There are more reasons than I wish to count
of how a person’s life can turn about.
A lost job, or lost family;
something that they did not foresee.

They say 3% of the homeless are American vets,
and it gets better yet…
They have come back from a war that has
never been declared…many wounded,
shell shocked, and living in fear.

They gave their all so that we could be free,
and did not ask to live in poverty.
No job, no money, no food to eat…
And a conversation with them can be a treat.

If you weren’t born with a gold or silver spoon
in your mouth, then maybe you’ll know
what I’m talking about.

The homeless are part of the world’s society.
They’ve lost everything, including their dignity.
Do you think that you could survive?
Maybe you’ll find out with some time.

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

Homeless
By Louis Rams

A warm meal is all I ask, if it’s not much of a task.
All my life I was a provider, and now I’m an outsider.
An outsider who finally sees, what poverty has done to me.

I’ve worked every job that I could find,
to be the provider that I used to be.
But life turned its back on me.
They say that humanity always asks the LORD,
‘Why me?’ but poverty is the student,
and hardship is the teacher.
That is the way the LORD can reach us.

For when we see all that we had, and did not want to share;
Turned our backs on everyone, and did not really care.
This is the time that our lessons in life unfold.
For in GOD’S teachings, to help our fellow man…
Sacrifices we all must make, it is part of GOD’S plan.
And now that I am homeless and living in the woods;
I have to ask myself,
‘What would have happened if in my life I was good?’

I gave this man five dollars, for that was all I had.
He looked up at me and smiled,
and blessed me for the generosity.
Then he turned his back, and departed from me.
And as he walked away, a mist covered him from view.
There was no one there…that was when I knew.
The LORD came to me that day,
Just to show me the homeless way.

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

melanie rae photo

Impressions
By Melanie Rae

Love of honesty,
caresses a truth.
Infinite path,
reveals his proof.
I never left him,
He cried for me.
Until he held me
I was not free.

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

michael sheldon

Face In the Crowd
By Michael Sheldon

Westminster shuffle, clipped scuff of shoes
The Greek temple looms large and forgotten
Voices coursing to their destination
Blue from above soaks down the warmth
Sun low, time to walk
Past the tall stone pedestal
Staring at the courthouse clock tower
By the purple fluffs and art deco
Through the cathedral doors
For glow of body and soul

The next day he is above the streets
As if a virus wiped out all
Sitting on the outdoor cafeteria seat
Nobody comes
Then he opens his eyes
The night does not banish, but draws
An eerie rhythmic music
Soft orbs
And crowds of people
He flits from crowd to crowd
Watching the river
Waiting, looking
Part of the whole but unseen
The chains whirl with fire
Water and fire meet
Gasping air fans the aura
Me within the crowd
As much a part of it as anything

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

Don’t Mosh My Melon
By Michael Sheldon

Like a body roughly shoved along a mosh pit
My melon bounces up against 3 a.m. heavy metal
Gets flattened by a mathematical equation
Bruised by robotic droning
Pummeled by myopic rigidity
Almost making a chowda head
Until I escape to my own deflector shield
The quiet written word
More fun to watch the celestial bodies explode into each other
And let me chillax
To feel the super deluxe day

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

michael w. nason

Little Girl Lost
By Mike Nason

Little girl walking round
Little girl don’t know this town.

Wandering not sure where
Looking for, someone to care.

Little girl feeling rain
Walking fast, hiding pain.

Little Girl you’re all alone
Night air chilling to the bone.

Little girl tears falling free
As you walk no one to see

Little girl what will you do?
Will this world be missing you?

Little girl what is the reason
No time of change within the season

Just times so hard no place to run
Little girl lost without the Sun.

Little girl you ran away
Try to find a place to stay.

Troubles follow everywhere
See the men the way they stare.

Little girl the night draws near
Down your cheek a little tear

In your throat a little cry
In your pain you ask why.

Little girl one calls to you
Knowing what he wants to do

Can there be someone here
To hold you close and calm your fear

Little girl before your face
Looking down at his disgrace

He smiles as he looks at you
Whispers words that are not true

Little girl he holds you tight,
Feigning love throughout the night.

Innocents have paid the cost
In a world of Little girl lost.

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

Sam portraits with short hair 009

Sanctify Your Reason
By Samantha Noelle Golt

Have you seen the mess we are in
the illusions and the sins?
Have you seen the different faces
and the lights in their eyes?

Do you think that life’s a game?
There is no time, no space.
Yet one moment is too much too late.
Will you stand up and be brave?

I have the solution to this ordinary confusion.
Say no to the devil and Sanctify truth.

Come through to life,
Come with the fool,
Come into salvation.
Come through to love,
Come with your peace,
Come even through temptation.

Salvation, salvation, invasion from within.
Salivation, salivation, liberation from sin.

Do you know what’s bad, are you
the emotions and the thoughts?
Have you heard their different voices
the vibrations in your form?

Have you been searching for the truth or your youth?
Is your lifetime an endless journey? Where’s your permit?
Did you ever think to stop or to Rock?
And to follow somebody’s Mission? Get the Vision?

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

WITHOUT THE MEETING OF THE WATERS
By Samantha Noelle Golt

I SEE WITHIN, THE MEETING OF THE WATERS
I SENSE A CHANGE, INSIDE YOUR HEARTS MY DAUGHTERS
I HEAR IT NOW THE MOMENT
I KNOW IT’S REAL, OUR FULLNESS

AND WHEN I PRAY, MY ANCIENT GOD RESTORES ME
I NOW BELIEVE OUR PATHS ARE JOINED IN WHOLENESS
I SEE YOU NOW MY BROTHERS

CONSCIOUSNESS RESTORED
OF RESURRECTION

I SEE WITHOUT, THE MEETING OF THE WATERS

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

sean trott

Budget Cuts
By Sean Trott

The state is over spending
so cut homeless agencies
Voted to cut NOP
Although they help fill the vacancies
Across our state there’s housing
That the homeless can’t afford
But we overlook the facts
The issues continue to be ignored
How many have to become homeless?
In order for them to see
I guess we aren’t even close
Although the homeless number
climbs beyond 4,003
We rallied showing how important
This program was to us all
They didn’t want to listen
They chose to dismiss us to the hall
We face a new challenge
How will we survive?
When government targets
The less fortunate too deprive
We are truly in need
Of help and support
But I guess it ends as another
Lesson taught
The day has arrived that all of us
Are forced to fear
We are in an emergency situation
Screaming for them to hear
Can’t they see they’re eliminating
The middle and lower class
We are only asking for a chance
Not expecting a free pass
The wealthy remain stable
Continue to look down on the rest
The emergency broadcast
system is speaking
Except “this is not a test”
We have reached crucial times
We are poor as we can be
I want to be helped and heard
Stop poverty from raining down on me
Let us have the chance we are entitled to in this
American promised land
Don’t walk over or push us aside
Please lend us a hand

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

Book Launch - Paradise Bound 2008 030

Mothers
By Sonia Golt

Like an Ocean deep within her
The love was again portrayed
For the children she had carried
Nine months till she gave them birth

There is not a greater love
For a woman to have known
Than the love she feels inside her
For the children that she bore

No one really ever warns you
Even though books you have read
That mention love for your children
Is the greatest love on earth!

This love can sometimes be painful
For their suffering you bear
No matter how many years
You will still forever care

Atoms fly within your body
Like little love hearts galore
Whenever you see the faces
Of your kids as they grow old…

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

Simple Pleasures
By Sonia Golt

You know what makes me happy
the simple things in life
Like giving you a tender kiss
or just holding you tight

I love to hear the rain outside
and see the moon that shines
to smell a perfumed rose
or gaze up to the sky

I like to see the birds in spring
and hear their chirpy songs
and I adore seeing you smile
when we are both alone

I love to touch a baby’s face
because its silky soft
and to hold hands with my old man
who needs my firm support

I love to listen to your voice
when you call out my name
and for these moments I thank the Lord
for never losing faith!

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works.

timothy seal

BRICKS
By Timothy Seal

Brick’s looking in at me
Ceaselessly staring me down
Not a thought can I keep to myself
The mortar taunting me
“Look! Look at me!”
“Look at how I stick!”
I scream but it does no good
It does no good at all
I scream but it does no good
Because the bricks absorb it all

Published in October, 2011 in Creative Works and News.

An Ode To Life
By Timothy Seal

Such is the life of an old sea snail
Silently sauntering within the boundaries of the sea
Unable to comprehend the beauty engulfing it
Simply because it is an old sea snail

Our Mission

Street Sights serves as a forum for advocates, homeless and formerly homeless people, students, state officials, and the general public to share accurate and honest information about issues relating to homelessness. Our goal is to shed light on a subject not often addressed and, to some degree, ignored. We aim to provoke discussion and give a voice to voiceless people in our community. We provide a space free of judgment in which we recognize the dignity and worth of each person and in doing so empower the group as a whole.