Our Wee City Skyline. The sky wins.
Racing off to somewhere else I surrendered to your immediacy and the mockery of my plans.
Racing off to somewhere else I surrendered to your immediacy and the mockery of my plans.
And the light tide returns and two more minutes of light and the quiet race toward June.
And the light tide returns and two more minutes of light and the quiet race toward June.
Nothing prepared me for this.
Nothing prepared me for this. No tradition. No culture. No elder to mimic falling on their knees and then stepping into the water in awe. In gratitude. Left only with a clunky shoebox language to try and sing and drum up the beat of the ineffable.
He is holding one of the YOU MATTER cards made by the National Honor Society of Freeport High School...
Dear Anonymous,
He is holding one of the YOU MATTER cards made by the National Honor Society of Freeport High School who recently raised money for donations to Dear Anonymous. I know. This blows the 'anonymous' part but I think it's worth discussing what a group of young people in our world chose to do of their own volition receiving nothing in return. We have tucked these inside pairs of socks and pockets of backpacks. Hell, we've handed them to the baristas at Starbucks.
This is Mike holding the card as a way to thank you. Cuz' yeah, YOU matter too.
Temporality
Temporality
I have arrived on the shores of discontent.
Dear Anonymous,
I have arrived on the shores of discontent. The mood is sour. Nerves frayed. Petty jealousies. Undercurrent of bristling anger and resentments. Socks. Coffee cards. Coats. Boxers. Thermal layers. Always that last one who misses out on coffee cake. Another reason for a lousy day. So and so who was hugs last week won't have a thing to do with the group today. 'All stupid.', he spits out.
Use. Addiction. Survival. Desperation. Wounds.
The conversation goes to memories of trauma growing stronger with age; triggers. It moves on to being condemned for wearing a good coat while signing.'If you have good coat why the hell are you begging?' 'Your shoes cost more than what I can afford.Get lost.'
The shoes were donated.
The coat was donated.
Winter Solstice. The high tide of darkness spins and turns. Now this. This. I can celebrate.
Winter Solstice. The high tide of darkness spins and turns. Now this. This. I can celebrate.
It was all a delicate balance.
It was all a delicate balance. What was suspended may fall. What was secured may be unsecured. Intentions be damned.
Winter home. Oh, buoy.
Winter home. Oh, buoy.
On this morning, tipping as we do toward light, you were unreasonably beautiful.
On this morning, tipping as we do toward light, you were unreasonably beautiful.
You Rose and Fell Upon the Solstice Tide
You Rose and Fell Upon the Solstice Tide
Memory from December 20th, 2015
Thank you JOURNEY Magazine, Carolyn Delaney, Brian Delaney and Alison Jones Webb for your recent article.
Thank you JOURNEY Magazine, Carolyn Delaney, Brian Delaney and Alison Jones Webb for your recent article. Thank you for what you all do to support the recovery community and our community at large. Most grateful. — with Justin Downey.
MaineWorks. Proud of you. That's all. Proud of you.
MaineWorks.
Proud of you. That's all.
Proud of you.
The solstice is arriving. This recalcitrant sun sleeping late. We are almost at the high tide of your disappearance. Come home.
The solstice is arriving. This recalcitrant sun sleeping late. We are almost at the high tide of your disappearance. Come home.
The abundance of your hips. Hip to hip.
The abundance of your hips. Hip to hip.
It all largely looks like a stage set to me. Single digits out here in the audience.
It all largely looks like a stage set to me. Single digits out here in the audience. — at Handy Boat, Casco Bay.
Here he is this morning stuffing a backpack with socks and a hat and a coffee card and...
Dear Anonymous,
Here he is this morning stuffing a backpack with socks and a hat and a coffee card and another jacket for the young woman sleeping in the doorway down the street. He takes a blanket and socks for our young friend in the next doorway in a sleeping bag, too cold to get up to get them himself.
In his element. In the elements. If he is feeling discouraged it certainly isn't manifest. A survivor. Tried and true. His wife says about his eviction, about the news of a mother murdering her own daughter that haunts her on todays front page 'It's life. And I don't like it.'
Thank you Dear Anonymous. Gloves, hats, socks, coffee cards were welcome.
And just to remind folks, Mike gives his permission to be photographed and to share stories from life on the street. It is with permission in the hopes it may help his community.
Pepper the Rescue Puppy. Have treats. Will travel.
Pepper the Rescue Puppy. Have treats. Will travel.
Sweetest Wharf Rat in Town.
Sweetest Wharf Rat in Town. — with Cielle Cloutier.