I wrote this piece about a year ago. I volunteered every week at a homeless shelter and below is my reaction to what I saw. At the time I wrote it I was angrier than I usually am because the city was trying to figure out ways to get rid of their homeless problem. The people down there were being treated unkindly and treated merely as a problem, not people. Though the poem seems coarse and sarcastic it was written from a place of grief because I felt like few were willing to treat these friends I made down there as people. Many people down there lost their families, homes, jobs, and everything else in this world that is considered important by society. In this piece I do not ask to solve Vancouver's homeless problem. All I ask is a change of perspective. East Hastings is full of people. Beautiful people. Don't identify them by their situation, their struggles, or their appearance. Try to identify them by who they are.
Welcome to the city, oh how beautiful!
How the lights they shine from that twelve story building
We have restaurants and bars
We have a park where you can see the stars
Everything is perfect, everything
Now pretend this side is all we have here
Picture perfect, everything the best
Now close your eyes as you pass by East Hastings
Because this is where we keep our homeless
That girl she’s alone but she doesn’t need help
She has welfare to care for her unborn child
Just drive away live like she never happened
If you don’t you might erase your smile
And everyone should just be happy
And look out for their best
Don’t bother to give this place dignity
Because this is where we keep our homeless
There’s a stabbing down on Main
There’s a drug deal at the corner
There are thousands in the cold, cold rain
But we don’t want you to stop
Go on about your business
This place is our great city’s horrid shame
You see people don’t live here
Cuz they don’t have your success
Close your eyes as you pass by East Hastings
Because this is where we keep our homeless
Did God one day say
The rich were the ones we should impress?
You see I thought I heard him say
He was a friend to the homeless
When he said care for the poor
Did he mean ignore them and push them away?
Tell me I must have misheard, I was sure
I heard him say
His ears are open to their cry
He loves just like you and me
And beggars he didn’t just pass by
He was a friend to the weak
They are beautiful so valuable
Treasured by our God they’re precious
Pass by the place of the brightest faces
Is where we keep our homeless
Welcome to the city, oh how beautiful!
How the lights they shine from that twelve story building
We have restaurants and bars
We have a park where you can see the stars
Everything is perfect, everything
Now pretend this side is all we have here
Picture perfect, everything the best
Now close your eyes as you pass by East Hastings
Because this is where we keep our homeless
That girl she’s alone but she doesn’t need help
She has welfare to care for her unborn child
Just drive away live like she never happened
If you don’t you might erase your smile
And everyone should just be happy
And look out for their best
Don’t bother to give this place dignity
Because this is where we keep our homeless
There’s a stabbing down on Main
There’s a drug deal at the corner
There are thousands in the cold, cold rain
But we don’t want you to stop
Go on about your business
This place is our great city’s horrid shame
You see people don’t live here
Cuz they don’t have your success
Close your eyes as you pass by East Hastings
Because this is where we keep our homeless
Did God one day say
The rich were the ones we should impress?
You see I thought I heard him say
He was a friend to the homeless
When he said care for the poor
Did he mean ignore them and push them away?
Tell me I must have misheard, I was sure
I heard him say
His ears are open to their cry
He loves just like you and me
And beggars he didn’t just pass by
He was a friend to the weak
They are beautiful so valuable
Treasured by our God they’re precious
Pass by the place of the brightest faces
Is where we keep our homeless
