Kids Poems and Articles

ARTICLES

Being Without
by C.H.
(A 17 Year Old Youth)

At the beginning of the day there's nothing to do.

No friends' houses to go to and no school, nowhere to go, nowhere to turn, everyone sees you as a flesh wound burn, everyone stares and are very scared to talk to you, ants play in your hair, your parents are gone, they don't even have a home, you have to do for yourself and you can't leave your siblings alone so that's more on your brain you have to find them a place, luckily your aunt believes in grace, she takes them in, not enough room for you, now what do you do, you rest your head at local parks or behind grocery stores, not enough covers you get a lot of scars from the ground scraping your flesh as you try to be comfortable, every noise you hear your heart skips a beat because you are so scared that a grown man might want to greet or beat and rape and you're afraid because you can't fight him off, while people are at home warm and cozy we're in the streets with frozen toes, so no one can tell me I ain't been through it I've. Been on my own since the age of eight and yes I admit it I have been raped, crying for my mom and she's nowhere to be found, I've seen dead bodies, slept under the ground to get warm, I've been abused, molested and bruised so there is no one that can tell me I don't deserve a room.

This Hard Stairway
by E.M.
(A 15- Year Old WIND Youth)

What am I to do? I'm so restless. I don't know where to go and lay my head tonight. Don't know where I'm going to get my next meal. Lord I so tired of these stairways full of glass. I have cut my feet so many times and it's hard for me to make it to the top. No matter how thick my shoes are that glass still cuts through it. My soul, my spirit and my mind is tired. My self esteem and my dignity is suffering and I feel like a big fragment of my life is missing. The struggle to stay alive and survive is as hard as trying to keep a wound to the heart from bleeding.

All I know is sorrow and grief and the wondering thought of will this stairway ever be easy to walk up.

Joe's Letter

This is an actual letter written by a youth, we will call "Joe". "Joe" spent almost two months at the Wind Shelter. He was seventeen years old, a great student, artistically talented, and a neat kid. Joe came to the Wind Center in crisis, stating that he had left home and had no place to stay. He told of years of physical and emotional abuse from his natural father. The abuse reached a point that "Joe" felt he had no choice but to leave. In describing the final incident, he stated, "He (Joe's father) came into my room in a rage and immediately started hitting, then kicking me…. My father continued inflicting abuse on me…worse than the abuse that I and other family members-my sister and mother-had experienced before…. I had to face the fact that I was forced to move out of the house, in fear for my safety and mental stability." During the weeks that "Joe" spent with us, our staff and others made numerous unsuccessful attempts to work with the family. While at the shelter, he was able to complete his high school and graduate with his class. He had already applied and received a full scholarship to a private college. After his graduation, we were able to make arrangements for "Joe" to start college early, and he moved into the dooms. He wrote to us and states that he doing well, loves his new school, and is making new friends.

These are his actual words; the only modifications are to his name and other identifying information:

My name is 'Joe',

I am currently a senior at XXXXX High School in Sacramento. As my years with public education come to an end, I grow hopeful in the prospect of my goals and dreams to further pursue my education at a private, four-year institution.

However even though I am more independent and self-motivated now, I could not have done so to my fullest potential without the support of the Wind Youth Shelter in Sacramento, California. Just the sheer amount of support and resources I have received from the staff here has been overwhelming for me. I am grateful for the fact that these people believe in me, in bad times of trouble or even the smallest worries…. First, let me inform you that before I came to the shelter, I was in an unhealthy living situation with my family. I never had the courage to call a shelter hotline or support center before, but with the suggestion of a friend, I finally decided to. The Wind Youth Shelter was the first and only suggestion that my friend gave me. When I called, I immediately knew I was in safe hands. The staff was able to address my concerns by counseling me and reassuring me in regards to my health and family situation.

I remember the first night I came to the shelter. I was scared of the new experience, and the staff took notice. Immediately, they treated me as if I were their son. They nurtured me in ways that I never really had with my family. And because of the family-like setting that the shelter provided for me, I felt at ease and could start focusing on my goals…. I can only say with total truth and confidence, that the Wind Youth Shelter has taken me away from the life on the streets, and into their welcoming, loving arms. I am thankful that I had this experience in my life. I know that I can go on now stronger than ever, all thanks to the people who founded this organization, as well as the staff who effectively work and coordinate the shelter to make it a safe home for youth.

Sincerely,

"Joe"

"Mary"

By Anonymous

It was Christmas Day 2002. Brunch was being prepared and served to over 65 homeless teens by staff and volunteers at the WIND Youth Center. Some of the homeless teen brought 16-year old "Mary" to eat and get a small Christmas present. She sat in a chair by herself in the corner crying. The other kids told staff that she had no place to stay, but was afraid to ask about the WIND Shelter. Mary was talked into trying the shelter for one night by telling her that she could leave if she wanted to go. Mary did not have an easy childhood. She saw her father once and thought he lived in another state. Her mother "went away" when she was six (actually she was committed to state prison for stabbing another woman). Mary and her sister and brother were placed in a series of foster and group homes. She had not seen her siblings for some time, but had heard that her sister had a baby and her brother liked to play football. Her mother was on parole in Sacramento , but Mary had not seen her for over three months.

Mary was an extremely angry young lady. She was angry with adults, the "system", and herself. She had previously tried to kill herself several times by cutting her wrists and running in front of cars. She refused to go into a foster home, and said that she would just run away again. Mary's stay at the shelter and her involvement with the WIND programs, including school, was not easy. She had a very hard time accepting directions, or believing that we really cared what happened to her. She slowly started to relax and accept that she had to make some plan for her future. She began to do better in school, started to trust staff, and after two months of encouragement, applied for a transitional housing program. Because of her history the new program was reluctant to accept Mary, but with the reccomendation of the WIND staff she was accepted on a trial basis. She has been in the program for almost four months. She still talks about being sad, especially when she sees families. Some days she feels that life is just too hard, but for the first time she is talking about her future, getting a job and sharing an apartment with another girl.