Joanne.

Met a women in the street just the other day,
Sitting behind an old blue garbage can,
She gained some courage, asked me for change,
As tears fell on a name tag entitled Joanne.

She looked up at me with guilt trodden eyes,
Holding out her hand, wiping her dirty cheeks;
As she shushed her child's helpless cries,
And her knees started to tremble, becoming weak.

'You know, I haven't always been this way,
I used to have my own money, the love of a man,
But he packed up his stuff and just left one day,
And left me here without a helping hand...

I've seen everything here down on this street,
No one sees me hiding behind that bin,
But I think it's better that way, the fewer people I meet,
Because with the way people talk, the way I am is a sin...

I never used to rely on a hit to get me through the night,
But I can't take care of this kid all on my own,
I know you're thinking that I'm selfish and you're right,
But tell me, have you grown up all alone?

Now I'm not asking for you to buy me a house or a car,
All I ask is for a dollar so I can buy a can of baby food,
And I wish on tonight's first shining star,
That you aren't like all the rest and you aren't rude.'

She bowed her head as tears fell on her baby's forehead,
And as I reached into my purse to dig for some money,
A man walked up to us, his face all angry and red --
'Me and Joanne need to talk, take a hike honey!'

And as she looked at me with fear in her sky blue eyes,
She handed me her baby, said his name was Justin,
And as he lead her away, death ran out in the sky,
As crystal tears ran down off of my chin.

Joanne never could pay for that last hit she took,
But as I held her baby in my arms that night,
I held a letter tucked in his blanket as I silently shook,
For she knew it was coming, but couldn't take the fight.

-Jenna Elphick
April 1, 2007.