Evicted

Summary

The poem "Evicted" reflects on the harsh realities of homelessness and poverty amidst the pandemic, highlighting the struggles of those facing eviction and the desperation of trying to survive without basic necessities.

Abstract

"Evicted" is a poignant poem that captures the despair of individuals who have been forced out of their homes during the pandemic, a time when even the act of breathing feels volatile and uncertain. The author, J.D. Harms, acknowledges the living crises exacerbated by the pandemic, noting that despite some protective measures in Canada, many still face the threat of homelessness. The poem paints a vivid picture of life on the edge, where the search for sustenance and shelter is a daily battle, and the fear of making a mess in a world that seems to conspire against the less fortunate is ever-present. Harms expresses empathy for those in dire straits, questioning how such poverty can exist in a supposedly wealthy, developed nation. The poem is a reflection on the author's own experiences with hardship and a call to acknowledge and address the systemic issues that lead to such desperate situations.

Opinions

The author feels fortunate to have stable housing but is deeply concerned for those who face eviction and homelessness during the pandemic.
There is a sense of injustice and bewilderment at how people can end up without a home in a country that is perceived as wealthy and developed.
The poem suggests that the pandemic has intensified the struggles of the most vulnerable, making their plight even more precarious.
The author emphasizes with the destitute and criticizes the societal conditions that allow for such extreme poverty and despair.
There is a call to action implicit in the poem, urging society to address the root causes of homelessness and poverty rather than simply managing their symptoms.

A Poem

Sent home or back out into alleys peopled with silent garbage Starving among all the great waistlines threatening to expand and shatter the windows toppling mannequins advertisements over Sent to the bar to pick up a few cans a return of some cents possibility of more or cursing those who hide their empties inside locked garages pulling the pay away from me Sent to the ledge to examine the end of things weighing out calculating pains in volatile seconds and afraid to inhale too deep the fear of the inadvertent mess Sent an eviction notice on a block with no lights or oven or bed sharing a room and the lostness continues

*Author’s note: hard to ignore some of the living crises that are going on through the pandemic. Certainly, some communities in Canada, at any rate, have not permitted landlords to serve eviction notices during lockdown, or for certain periods. I can’t imagine, though, that some people’s fortunes haven’t been so radically altered in all of this that they find themselves without a home. I feel fortunate to be in a place I won’t get evicted from, but my heart goes out to all those who are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. With these more recent troubles in mind, I borrowed some images from the past, people I’ve witnessed, usually in Winnipeg, in dire straits, to breathe some life into this scene. Truthfully, as destitute as I’ve had occasion to be in my life, I’ve never had to sleep under a bridge or in a box. I wrestle with trying to understand how that happens in the first place, especially from the perspective of a country supposed to be relatively wealthy, developed. I’ve no intention here of making poverty nostalgic: it can very well go away and so much the better. Desperate times call for desperate reflections, I suppose…