On a cold night in February, my volunteer group and I assisted at an event benefiting the local people who experience homelessness. Before this, I had no knowledge about what being in a state of homelessness was truly about. Even today, it’s still difficult for me to understand it.
There I meet Lydia, a woman in her forties whose smile and humor lit the room up. At the the event, she read us a poem called “My Perspective” :
Folks call me homeless. That’s okay.
I watch them go out of their way,
avoiding me and walking fast
until they think they’re safely past.
And while it’s true my home is gone,
I’ve found the strength to muddle on.
My things here in this shopping cart
I borrowed from the local Walmart.
I have no roof protecting me,
but I’m as happy as can be.
Though in this makeshift bed I lie,
I count the stars that dress the sky.
My nightlight is the glowing moon.
My lullaby, the cats that croon
and dogs that bark and bay all night.
Don’t pity me. I’m quite alright.
Folks call me homeless, and that’s fine;
but I’ve a spot that I call mine.
And though it’s not a hotel suite,
my alley makes a fine retreat.
Lydia is a mother of four and a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, homelessness came after she experienced domestic violence and went through a divorce.
That night I could not stop thinking about the poem of her perspective. It surprised me of how even though Lydia was at this current state, she still has a positive outlook on her lifestyle. I couldn’t imagine myself in the same situation and react the same way. The poem showed me about how I took so many aspects in life for granted but instead should be grateful. It was truly an eye-opener for me and has motivated me throughout Charity Ball season.
Charity Ball is an opportunity for all of us to come together to bring a change into our community. This year, we working on changing the lives of more than 4,000 people that experience homelessness by raising $150k for Raleigh-Wake Partnership to End Homelessness.
Let’s work together to make the situation of homelessness a thing of the past. Let’s change that perspective of homelessness in our community. Change the perspective of one and make their fantasy into a reality.
Viti Pathak
Freshmen Class VP