" living on the Streets of Toronto

It is very hard living on the streets of Toronto
Because it is not like Halifax. More shit happens in Toronto.
I had one guy come up to me to work on the street.
But I said no to him
because you can get AIDS by working on the street.
And I get into fights on the streets.
And people ask me what am I doing in a place like this
But I tell them to leave me alone.
They all tell me to go back home.
I do not know Toronto yet.
People gave me money to buy some food and place to stay.
Sometimes they ask me what the money is for and I tell them.
And one guy gave $20.00
for something to eat and place to stay.
And one guy was going to kill me
if I did not work on the street
And some of the students at Beat the Street help me
with things like my math and English and places to stay.

Shelley

Recipes for political action, Toronto: Beat the Street, p. 5