Poem: One Year

One year ago exactly.
Homeless.
The same cold bite in the air,
same anxiety about upcoming Holidays.
The wildest,
most unlikely,
wish I dreamed at the time,
my greatest prayer:
That one day I would have
a place of my own.
Coffee in the Morning.
A radio.
That;s all I wanted,
those three things,
more than anything else.
I didn't think It'd ever happen.
Picturing it perfectly in my mind,
every day,
regardless of my surroundings.

Now its here.
I have my own place,
my coffee, my radio.
A few more things
I hadn't dreamed of...
My gratitude is overflowing,
let there be no doubt.
Hugging my floor, kissing my bed.
Yes I love parts of life, now.
Sunlight streams through my windows,
the sign taped to my door reads,
"Go Away! This means YOU."

I never pictured the
constant pain in my stomach.
Never pictured my desire to
never leave my bed,
cowering under the covers
with NPR on the Radio
for the rest of my life.
Never pictured walls
sometimes driving me mad,
forcing me out the door,
if for nothing but to get away.
Only to return gratefully later.

All these and more
Afflictions Unpredictable.
What dreams do I have left now?
What pictures will I imagine?
What future will I create
for myself,
one year from now?