In response to a video about the work of a girl Veronika who had been homeless but was empowering the homeless and being very aware of the homeless problem in Sydney I wrote this poem. I have published it before but it seemed to fit this challenge set by the Weekly Discover challenge team where they ask us to do something different such as add photos, or words. Graphically displaying the words is not something that I often do. The V at the end of the poem is for victory at the renewal that occurs as a result of Veronika’s work.
Renewal
Work
On knees
head on ground
Proud supplicants
Abandoned by the state
Shunned by those who used to care
Once, they were sons and daughters, mothers and fathers
Days end, these sons and daughters, mothers and fathers
Head home to their tiny public cardboard rooms
Public verandahs protect from rain
grimy, slimy sleeping bags
Possessions few
Chinese bags
Homeless
Cold
A homeless girl Giving renewal
A scholarship she won Empowering homeless
Yet still she knows She trains
Cold kills She employs
Coats needed is not a fix.
S0 she sews this bandaid
Yet she knows
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Angels come in many forms.
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That is for sure and Veronika would certainly have to be one.
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Great poem. Says a great deal about the way our society operates.
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Thanks Angie. It is great to see someone doing something that makes sense and helps in more ways than one.
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Very powerful and touching poem, Irene. Sadly the homeless problem exists all over the world and they seem little able to climb from their abyss.
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Thanks Sharon. Yes it is a worldwide problem and seemingly an unsolvable one. At least one girl is making a bit of a difference.
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Yes she is, and beautifully.
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Beautiful and sad. I don’t remember reading this poem before. Thank you for sharing.
And what an amazing young woman. Love this, Irene.
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Veronika is an amazing woman indeed. It just shows that some small germ of an idea can grow into something that really makes a difference. The homeless problem is incredibly sad.
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Agreed. On both counts.
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