Prior to Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day 2021, we put out a call for creative writing submissions. Through poems and short stories, participants shared their experiences with homelessness. During the ceremony, Urban Pathways Consumer Advocate, Will Woods, read his winning poem.

Please take the time to read his extraordinary words and consider sharing them.

A Poem by Will Woods

My heart is heavy
and my soul weeps
such anger and frustration
mired in pure futility
tired of senseless loss…..

There is no greater desire
than ones will to live
so it hurts more when life is lost
a double edged blade
piercing the veil of our own mortality

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
does indeed creep on in its petty pace
but time is immemorial
life is not

Such infinitely complex
yet futile beings we are
with our expiration date issued at birth
with our taking our next breath for granted
yet forgetting eyes closed in the bliss of sleep
can only be reopened by gods grace

Blessed be those who riseth on the day
and blessed be those
cradled in the bosom of his memory

Tho saddened by loss
the heart is soothed
knowing a soul has been freed
from this mortal coil to his eternal rest

Goodbye mis gentes and good luck and
if you lose your way on this new journey
try to remember
its first star to the right
and straight on till morning

Live Reading

Please also enjoy this recording of Will himself reading his poem.