A Poem: 'The Will'

News From Our Shoes is a Raleigh-based magazine with the purpose of advancing an understanding about homelessness. What makes it unique is that the articles are written and edited by people who are experiencing homelessness, or who have at some point. Visit their website: http://www.newsfromourshoes.net/. The following is one of the poems from their website...

The Will by Rafiq S. Rashad

Please don't say that I gave up Just say I gave in Don't say that I lost the battle For it is God's war To win Please don't say how good or how bad I was for I did my best I tried to do what was right To give the most I could have dont less Please don't give me halos Cause that's for God to do I want no more than I deserve No extras, just my due. Don't give me flowers Or talk in hustled tones For a homeless man Knows what to do I've made my new home. Don't talk about what Could have been It's over and it's done Just to see my family Get their needs The battle has been won. When you draw a Picture of me Don't draw me as a Homeless drunk I've done some good And I've done some bad Don't just use the light And bright tones Use some gray and dark In fact, don't put me In your mouth After I'm gone Paint me In your heart Don't just remember The good times But remember the bad ones Too For life is full of Many things Some happy and some blue But if you have something For a homeless man Then I have one last request... Forgive me for all the wrong I have done and with the love that's left Thank God that a homeless man Has been blessed Thank God For all who loved me Praise God For he loved me best. Rafiq S. Rashad