Thanksgiving

I would walk the streets

Night after night

soaked, cold ,wet

blistered feet

wondering where I had gone wrong.

Wasn't it just yesterday 

That I had it all.

I awakened one morning

on my usual park bench

Suddenly it was all clear as mud.

Everyday spent being tortured

by guards in segregation cell

Was a gift

Everynight spent in a rat and bug

infested SkidRow 

Hotel

Was a gift.

Every night spent on a 

Park Bench, freezing

or

sleeping in front of Insite

to make it to the 10 a.m

Detox check in

Was a gift

Everyday in a hospital bed

wondering if it was my last

every overdose

every funeral attended

for 

this 

cancer

that 

suicide

car accident

overdose......

every tragedy I faced....

Was a gift

everyday spent starving

and dope sick

was an absolute gift

you know it's funny,

I don't feel the same way

about

the college scholarship

the 6 figure job

the condo

the trips

the women

the expensive clothes and jewelry.....

anymore anyways

"Although the world is filled with suffering,

It is also filled with the overcoming of it."

Helen Keller, deaf and blind

Put that together

Well, thank you Skidrow 

for now I have the greatest gift 

I could ever receive

the gift of knowing the meaning of life......

Humility, compassion, tolerance, understanding, and above all ....

Love for my fellow marginalized, mentally ill, addicted, homeless, and hurting brothers and sisters

I truly feel sorry for my old friends who believe in the Golden Rule: He who makes the Gold, Makes the rules.... sad, sad,sad

Thank you East Hastings,

I owe you my Life

By Justin Burggraeve

Justin participates in Megaphone's creative writing workshop at Onsite.