IN YOUR OWN WORDS WRITING THROUGH HARD TIMES Each month, the Denver VOICE publishes a selection of writing from workshops sponsored by Lighthouse Writers Workshop. The Hard Times Writing Workshop is a collaboration between Denver Public Library and Lighthouse Writers Workshop. This workshop is open to all members of the public—especially those experiencing homelessness. Contact the Lighthouse Writers Workshop for details about virtual Hard Times writing workshops: lighthousewriters.org/workshop/denver-public-library-hard-times The Lighthouse sponsored workshop at The Gathering Place is specifically for that organization’s clients. To check out more writing by the poets featured in this column, go to writedenver.org. JANIS OLSEN THE KEY SHALEEN VANESE FIGUEROA CHARLOTTE & WILBUR I still have her keys Singing in all the betweens The key to her heart. Such the tangled web we weave, When first we conspire to deceive. Direly at a loss, we diligently strive, to indeed achieve, To retain a win we had once thought, We would never ever receive. BENJAMIN ERIC NELSON WEPT Leaves are placed upon his dead body His eyelids pulled down for respect Ambulance is coming... Oddly To scoop him up he is blessed Order of name Scrub belief Scrub insane To lose my mind was a release It helps sometimes Force of habit Spell unwinds Alure is tragic Honor kept Seeing another one has wept Hurry up and wait. That’s how we play the game. Each day in and each one out, Seems to just never cease to amaze. Just never winning for losing, Is just LIFE, very simple, and cruising, Praying that one day there will be a win for all that losing, And maybe we can triumph over all those hardships, we tend to just daily grieve. ...To be continued. PRESENTED BY: November 2020 DENVER VOICE 11
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