A Hug

I no longer need to worry about the past

Maybe because those things don’t matter anymore

A chance to start fresh

A school atmosphere

Being able to help others gives me joy

The ability to be unapologetically oneself

To be able to look others in their eyes

and have a meaningful conversation

Things that connect us:

A hug

A smile

A helping hand

A garden

&

 Wifi

A Joshua Station collective poem by

Muje, Elhame, Gwyneth, Aaliayah, Megan, Jessi, and Ben

When staff member Benjamin Armas began a “List Making” workshop with small groups of parents one evening at Joshua Station, no one saw poetry coming. Making lists is practical. It brings organization out of jumble and focuses attention to detail. A list names things, and it clarifies.

After some everyday examples, Benjamin offered an invitation to go deeper. “What are things you desire?” Pens scribbled. “What gives you joy?” More lists. Some people were hesitant and guarded, while others were exuberant – all of which was welcome.

“We’re making poetry! Benjamin exclaimed, and then read a poem titled “The Meaning of Poetry,” which was structured in list form. Of course, as he confided later, if this had been presented as a poetry-writing exercise, most of the group would have bailed out from the start.

One resident, an Arabic speaking woman, was eager but struggled to understand the instructions. When an interpreter arrived midway through the session, she came alive with her lists. Before the night was over, her lists became beautiful poetry that was a window for others.

“I’ve been so very busy,” said one dad, “that I almost forgot what gives me joy. I rediscovered those things in my list.”

A grandmother who is now raising grandchildren at Joshua Station jotted down items from her lifetime “bucket list.” Then one by one, she began crossing them off. Not because she had attained them, but “maybe because those things don’t matter anymore”—released in the light of new dreams and joys.

As a final stanza of the evening, each list-maker chose a line from their lists to write on a slip of paper. Into the middle of the table the phrases went. With a little re-arranging, a collective poem emerged. It was a song, a celebration of things that connect.

I Know 

I know what Joshua Station is 

What brings us together
is a love of good for each other
and of living peacefully together with our children  

Being with my family  

Being adventurous  

Going to the middle of nowhere  

And having someone to listen to me   

A Joshua Station collective poem by  
Priscilla, Jayde, Asma, Diana, and Ben