Listen, I catch the sunraysthat's ultra-violent lightdestroy this flesh won't be the death of medarkness is a frenemyfreedom don't mean libertyI'm only passing throughlift off this earth in cosmic flight my time's no longer overdue

Compose my lyrics so you folks may hear itI walk the streets alone no guidecan only trust the SpiritI see them females everydaywhen will I find the oneto complete my soul and live in harmonylove isn't done

please hold your tongueYou speaking ignorancelife isn't blissfinally graduated off the bottle back to momma's titschildren bear our innocencetaught in schools by socialistsplease keep your distancestreets are crowded with protestersdamn, I wonder what's the difference

Black don't matterneither white nor brown, yellow or redif your life's a living color then your character is deadyeah, you just heard what I saidI don't fear justice, only dreadyour lying prostrate far aheadand for this country I have bled

This just a scene of what's to come in timehigh povertybroke government politics are crimeseek till you findwe the people need to stand united, that's lest we fallone republic is our nation under God I do recallyeah

© Copyright 2021 Redbeard the Rhymer.

Our homeless population in Asheville has a problem. We are told that so long as we keep a clean camp, we can sleep within the city limits, even downtown. It sounds simple, but it isn’t.

Law enforcement, citizens, and our own homeless community disrupt that mission in a variety of ways. It leave us with the choice of sleeplessness, jail, or to take ourselves outside city limits to live out our lives.

If our community would come together and stand together, and help one another keep our campsite clean and well-tended, the surrounding community would support us. And yes, it goes without saying, that crime and drugs are prevalent in our community and among the homeless, but we are only the unfortunate result of the bigger problem that needs to be addressed here in Asheville.

Yes there are programs and community resources in place, but they've been abused to the point where we are made to jump through so many hurdles as to be impossible, not to mention Covid-19 protocols that are still affecting our homeless community.

So where do we go?

My wife and I spot abandoned properties and businesses just about everywhere we travel, and always ask each other, "Wouldn't that be awesome if the city would buy this or that property to make a home for families who are homeless?" Instead of extending city funding for "Arts" and "Tourism," Why not allocate funds to take care of the homeless community instead of ignoring us and considering us a “nuisance?"

This just a scene of what's to come in timehigh povertybroke government politics are crime

—from “Freedom Isn’t Liberty”

If my voice can speak up loud and clearly, it would be to the citizens of this state and country to rally behind us and support those ministries, organizations, and philanthropists who sympathize and have genuine love in their hearts for those “lonely and so poor” and oppressed.

May these words turn your hearts to help your brothers and sisters.

Michael and Gypsy are a kind and thoughtful husband and wife. They are currently in western North Carolina.

He is a military veteran, having served in Iraq.

Both are passionate about improving their situation, overcoming the cycle of street life, and shining a light to others.

Your subscription does the following:

Gives you full access to all Speak Up content, articles, and community features.

Provides an ongoing voice for the voiceless and creates an income opportunity for people facing hardship.

Directly supports Michael and his wife Gypsy as they to improve their own situation by selling magazines and subscriptions to Speak Up.

Cost: $10 monthly or $120 a full year.