WINTER WISH LIST NEW ITEMS NEEDED: Socks Reusable water bottles Sunscreen, toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick Paper products for the office GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) Men’s jackets (sizes L, XL, XXL) Women’s jackets (sizes M, L, XL) Hats or beanies Blankets Gloves WRITING THROUGH HARD TIMES COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP MICHAEL ROMAN DIXON HOMELESS IN DENVER Heavy snow falls. It’s wet ice. Everyone looks dismal in this down town. I stand, dark and dismal, in my tattered, torn overcoat watching another high rise of homes being built. The construction work is slow. They BANG BANG BANG on large hollow iron pipes like empty bells without a song. The construction workers shiver and move like slow moving statues. The snowfall feels like someone throwing wet snowballs from the arctic that don’t miss slapping me in my face. I can no longer feel my fingers, toes or nose. I start to walk for warmth. And then I remember: at least today I have a warm, warm room. At least today in my warm, warm room at least I have a flower that blooms. At least today. FRAN FORD DUET AT SAMHAIN They say there’s a veil, and a time of a veil lifting or tearing between here and there, places where I more and more put a foot in each, straddle and reach for some torn and dulcet thing, where the hurting sweet of old love songs, the haunting sweet of coming silence, play a duet. The Hard Times Writing Workshop is a collaboration between Denver Public Library and Lighthouse Writers Workshop. It’s open to all members of the public, especially those experiencing homelessness. Each month, the Denver VOICE publishes a selection of writing from these workshops. DENVERVOICE.ORG/VENDOR-NEEDS Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. or schedule a drop-off by emailing program@denvervoice.org. Virtual workshops: lighthousewriters.org/workshop/denver-public-library-hard-times More writing by these featured poets: writedenver.org December 2021 DENVER VOICE 3
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