After Cataract Surgery
by Michael E. Cola

A journey’s hidden light
that shines so bright
has taken away
one perfect day.
Adjustment was made to see
so once again the power could be free.
The mind and body change
and sky and land rearrange,
but the light came shining through
and all things became brand new.
Red, blue and green
were in the light once again.
And then I knew that the Lord up above
was Maker and Finisher of all Love.

 

Poetry
Christ House patients enjoy a weekly poetry workshop.  Through this workshop, patients have an opportunity to read and appreciate poetry, as well as create their own poetic expressions.  These are just a few samples of work created in the poetry workshop. For more poetry, contact the Director of Development.

Hymn  
by Clark Merrifield

A man, he walks the winter streets,
  his head bowed in the wind.
He dreams of writing phrases
   but never holds a pen.
A mansion filled with luxury
   is where he longs to be,
yet spends his nights in barrooms
   and sleeps from dawn to three.

I knew this man some time ago
   when things weren’t quite so bad.
Then failures swept like whirlwinds
   across a desert land.
Success can build one’s confidence
   as failures can destroy
all the hopes and dreams and schemes
   that one man can enjoy.

I’d like to sing a melody
   with harmony so sweet
to ease his broken spirit
   and make his life complete.
If failures should befall you,
   believe in what you are,
‘cause gentle are spring breezes
   when winter’s cold is done.

 

Penny Finders
by Herbert Dickerson

I walk the cold and lonely streets
And there beneath my weary feet,
Seems I always find a penny.

I’ve passed through life this way it seems
Finding things that don’t fulfill my dreams,
Needing love but finding only sympathy,
Hoping for joy but feeling only misery.

A penny sort of tells the story of my life,
A worthless thing, carelessly dropped
Or tossed into the gutter,
To lie there until another weary soul
Comes along and picks it up
And wonders what good it is
And flings it back upon the cold and dirty ground,
For other Penny Finders come around.

A Letter to Myself
by Katrenia Millicent Davis

I think back and remember when
      I was lost without a place to go…
God looked at me and said,
      I don’t think so!!

I took the time to follow
      my one half step,
but with my left foot
      I picked up the pep…

God led me to Christ House
      so that I could heal…
Today I don’t walk the streets
      missing a meal…

I have met beautiful people
      in this place…
today I walk with a smile
      on my face.

I often stop to ponder
      where I would be
if Sister Donely hadn’t
      rescued me.

God’s grace and mercy
      has kept me around. 
I’ll use these five steps
      to keep me S-O-B-E-R bound:

S – Spiritual growth
O – Overcome obstacles
B – Be brave and courageous while taking the next journey to recovery
E – Enjoying the rest of my life
R – Remembering to put God first before doing anything else

 

I Think Not
by Alan Fernandez

Should pigmentation change
the very thought you have of me?

Should I be ashamed of a
word called slavery?

Should I be compelled to ignore
my own history?

I say, “Sir, I think not.”

Should guns be our toys
to show our masculinity?

Should drugs help to make life
seem better to me?

Should schooling be a luxury for me?

I say, ‘Sir, I think not.”

Did Dr. King give us the tools
just to burn down some cities?
And just to look like fools?
Do only cellblocks teach us the rules?

I say, “Sir, I think not.”

Can promise and hope be taken away
by a bullet called tomorrow,
                forgetting today?

Can we eat fruit of the devil
and give him his way?

I say, “Sir, I think not.”

Should prosperity be a dream for me?
Should fear destroy my destiny?

Should God ever turn away from me?

I say, “Sir, I think not.”