The following poem was written and read by youth activist Breezy at the recent Out in the Open Sleep Out.
Help me touch the clouds, ignore the tears I cry.
I want to be the dragon that soars in the sky.
Spread my wings, close my eyes, one deep breath, and let me fly.
Tell me how you feel about these homeless youth,
Are you willing to listen to one woman's truth?
I will start with telling you a little bit about myself,
Believe it or not my childhood was filled with a lot of wealth.
I had semi-rich foster parents that told me my mother didn't want me and was dead.
At this point can you imagine the things running through my head?
Awhile went by of physical and verbal abuse and I turned to drugs to mask my pain.
Little did people know the inside of this beautiful house was constant rain?
Look at me, aren't I dressed so nice?
Under these cloths can you see the marks I left from the knife?
I think you only see what you want to see
You pretend this woman is imaginary that's clawing at me.
I laugh at her when she puts me out.
No need to yell, scream, or shout.
Maybe she doesn't realize her putting me out sets me free,
Helps me touch the clouds, ignore the tears I cry.
I want to be the dragon that soars in the sky,
Spread my wings, close my eyes, one deep breath, and let me fly.
Awhile goes by and I'm auctioned from one home to another,
My final stop is a Christian home that forces me to stay under cover.
Eventually they found out I was more like Denzel Washington instead of Britney Spears,
How ironic it is that they didn't find out for years.
Let's fast forward this story a half a decade. I now wander the streets,
Feels like King Kong's on my back and I have blisters on my feet.
I walk in circles because I have no place to go.
Usually I burn out and lay in the snow.
Help me touch the clouds, ignore the tears I cry.
I want to be the dragon that soars in the sky
Spread my wings, close my eyes, one deep breath, and let me fly.
Back to hitting the UV, smoking like a chimney.
And popping any pills people give me.
The mental illness I have developed is going untreated and I'm losing my mind.
I whip up my own potions to try and fix myself, but there's nothing I find.
Help me touch the clouds, ignore the tears I cry.
I want to be the dragon that soars in the sky.
Spread my wings, close my eyes, one deep breath, and let me fly.
Shelters full most nights if I'm lucky I can get bus cards for the night and next day.
All I need is a couple of jail-burg sandwiches and I'll be on my way.
My eyes seem to never see sun.
I am the definition of what society calls a bum.
I come across good people, I feel no one is truly my friend.
Over dose after over dose, I wish everything would end.
Help me touch the clouds, ignore the tears I cry.
I want to be the dragon that soars in the sky.
Spread my wings, close my eyes, one deep breath, and let me fly.
What I have told you so far might seem sad,
And I haven't even told you a fraction of the details,
Or described my countless epic fails.
Being a homeless youth takes a toll on you.
Some of us steal, fight, and make fast cash in ways we wouldn't normally do.
Just for a quick meal and a hotel bed,
To lay our spinning heads.
Most homeless youth have gone through similar things as me,
But it's never too late to help my peers.
Be their human angels that chase away their fears.
As for me, one might think there is no hope,
Crawling out the bottom of a volcano,
But I disagree
I don't know the ending of my story,
But I have risen from ashes and totally free.
I will touch the clouds, and never ignore the tears I cry.
I will be the dragon that soars in the sky.
Spread my wings, close my eyes, one deep breath, and I will fly.