You see that I’m respectful
You see that I have lots of friends
But you don’t know me

You would know me if…
You knew how hard it was to be homeless
How tired I am of losing housing
It’d just go away
And we’d be back in the hotel, heartbroken

You would know me if…
You knew how I feel anger sometimes
I’m usually the one that brightens people’s day, but I’m really angry
Angry about this lifestyle
Just sitting with my mom with nothing to do,
Suppressed in my room like I’m under a thumb

You see that I am a joyful person with no regrets about my past
You see that I help you a lot
But you don’t know me

You would know me if…
You knew how I got in trouble a lot in my past,
Jumping over fences
And playing with things a child shouldn’t play with

You would know me if you knew
How I felt when I was your friend

This poem is published in The World in Me, a compilation of original poetry written by young people ages 8 – 17 who stayed with their families in housing at Solid Ground’s Broadview Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing for women and children. The young authors who contributed to The World in Me are not identified by their real names, and some details have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of them and their families. The authors retain copyrights on their individual works.