Poem Gather Make Shelter What does it Joy mean to you Read by Aileen McPherson live at the Joy Project event 9-9-2023
a
I had a very nice day at the event and was surprised to find out that my Gremlins still recorded my reading of the poem even though their videography needs improvement.
https://www.gathermakeshelter.org
Gather Make Shelter
What does it Joy mean to you.
By Aileen McPherson
Dana 6 years ago you had a genuine dream,
and like a djinn granting a wish,
joy and understanding was brought to our communities.
You set forth in motion greater awareness through friendship,
camaraderie, and fun through teaching creativity,
and brought us together when many of us were torn apart,
giving us away to make a new start.
Sometimes rhymes have no reason and reason has no rhyme,
Gather Make Shelter was born giving us something to look forward,
a home out of time.
Being homeless, Time was all we had from morning until night.
We’d scrimp, saved, worked, and we fought with ourselves,
our minds, and others daily, just to have a place to sleep,
to create, a private quiet spot, some small space to call home, to be dry and safe.
Many of us found a refuge under your wing,
welcomed by all at Gather Make Shelter,
We found a place where life turned into an abundant spring,
Everyone showed us how to live with those around us,
and uplifted spirits when friends died and we all cried,
then showed us how to think outside of old boxes then origami them anew.
These wonderful beings taught us how to have a different form of pride,
one built on the trust, respect, and dignity which they supplied through education,
We where given hope when we could not find that hope in ourselves.
Without darkness there cannot be light, without light there cannot be darkness, both need the other to coexist, and we
we are blending the two together here to show our community,
we can overcome diversity through creativity.
So we’ll dance and sing, while we continue to create beautiful things.
Then share and tell those we are bold and dare to be different everywhere,
so have no doubt it is with joy we scream and shout.
Welcome Friends! This is where the fun begins,
come dance and be merry, spread some joy don’t be contrary,
life’s too short to be Trumpian, instead chose love and compassion,
our greatest inspiration. Help us make a future which is bright,
we can be the change spreading quietly, like stars through the night.
Poem Read by Aileen McPherson at The Joy Project event 9-9-2023
AiDesigns2074 