Coming In August "Out Of The Corner Of My Eye"

Coming! August, 2010 My new book;

"Out of the Corner of My Eye"

This collection of stories, essays, thoughts are intimate accounts and views of a growing urban and underground population that's shunned, feared and unloved. The writings are taken from their experiences and first hand accounts my husband shared with me while serving as director of the City's Downtown Day Resource Center. His challenges and dealings with this population prompted me to write, give voice, and a glimpse into a strange, sad; sometimes comical, savage and bizzarre world. These are the stories of a growing population inhabiting our urban city landscape. They are the burdens, wretched; those dumped and part of the urban throwaways. Enjoy an excerpt from one of the essays:

"B.U.B.s"

(Bums Under Bridges)

Freeways trail through manufactured hills

Ebbing expanse of skies

Climbing mounds of grassy fields

Artificial boundaries

Mesh earth and lives

A semblance of protection

Shields the tears

Merciless weather and fears

Housed in various forms of containment

Forced out, shooed to travel with

Lives packed in old satchels

Newspapers, blankets and quilts

Stored memories time eliminates

Minds stall, fail to recall

Refuse to pass on and disseminate

Reviled, unwanted

Not welcomed, the accused

Some recented, others demented

Many confused and viewed

Daily by folks not amused.

They take abuse, looks of disgust

Accusation and blame

Eyes met with terror, hatred

Wonder and shame.

Blankets, trash the landscape

Bed-rolls, grocery carts full of stuff

Spread out, tied down, in place so bold...

Upcoming Book Launch August 2010

This is an introduction and preview of work from my upcoming book; "Out of the Corner of My Eye." The launch date is August, 2010.

This book delves into the souls and lives of urban street dwellers, the homeless, various characters; and those who manage and work with them. One story I call: "Big Baby."

BIG BABY

Her constant whine
Seems right;
They got use to
Hearing it over days
Months, years, at night
From that first
Time they saw her
Poor dear;
Thinks she’s still
The cute, young, sweet,
Loveable, good looking, fine
Girl she once was; When
Dude’s flip and morph
Into irrational crazies;
Just seeing watching her
Walk turns them into
Blithering idiots, barking
And begging for abuse.
Her voice takes on
A stark urgency; she
Needs, wants something.
An interesting oddity
For the girl of color;
She stole the look, ways
And act from movies stars
Who played the part
And got their way;
“It works for them
So why not me?”
Free for the taking;
She grabs, shapes and
Makes it her own;
She was cute and funny.
But something got lost after
Years and added pounds;
Too many days of sameness,
Limited time viewing new
Films, not staying current,
Damaged and cool her appeal;
She kept using
Outmoded lines, things
Sad, obsolete, out of touch;
Caught in a time warp;
Using what no longer worked.
Some antics were tolerated.
“She’s not hurting ‘nobody,”
Shared what she had;
Food, information;
Gossip and a laugh;

She strolls up to the
Day shelter director:
“Can I come in the building sir?
I need to go to the Baff-froom.
“Mr. I need a bus pass,” she said.
“I’m out,” he said.
“Gotta’ get back home,” she said.
Syrupy words drain out slow
Irritating begging runs
Down and coats her throat.
It could drive you crazy.
Count on her coming back
In the course of a day,
As her needs increase;
That’s how she got tagged
And known as; “Big Baby!”
It was an everyday thing.
She’s been answering
To the name every since;
“Hey; Big Baby!”
“Huh? What you want?
Hi! You got any ‘ciggeretes?
Where you been?”
That’s her!
She’s ‘Big Baby.