I have always had a place to sleep nights with a roof over my head and my own bed but my homeless state was out of sight it was at a lonely space in my mind instead.
I cannot count the years I wandered on rocky winding roads in dark nor measure the grace and light I squandered losing myself in distraction and work.
I can’t remember not having a job nor count the hours I’ve wasted, nor the love and care I’ve robbed nor the bread of life not tasted.
You won’t see me holding my cup on the sidewalk in the city my pride’s too great to give up I won’t ask you for your pity.
Yes, I have often been hungry I’ve been empty of inspiration yearned for peace in my country hoped for the source of creation.
But recently I’ve awakened from the darkness I had roamed found the road I wish I’d taken to a deeper fuller higher home.
The above poem was written in response to a poetic challenge on PoetryInProgress.net - which invited poets to write a poem inspired by this photo: http://poetryinprogress.net/Images-PIP/Challenges/homeless-man-400w.jpg