“Good morning”, “g’day”, “hello”. These are my greetings to the ‘passbyers’ as I stand on my pitch at CERES, Piedemontes and the Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne.

While I stand at my pitch, I may have a quiet hour in terms of how many mags I sell, but I’m flat-out giving and receiving smiles and warmth. I’m making millions, no trillions. I’m filthy rich!

There really can be a beautiful spirit in humanity, and I’m one of the lucky ones to experience this caring nature of people. I feel special and I feel privileged …

At the top of Arthur’s Seat
With her long flowing hair
And colourful dress
She is complete.
I take a photo of her
So it isn’t all a blur.
She leans back
And the wind takes her hair anywhere.
For her to be with me,
It is nice to be.

This poem is about Owen’s late wife, Annie. They were married for 11 years.
Owen sells The Big Issue in Melbourne.

I will never make it as a wise woman.
This is how you remind me of who I really am?
I’ve been to the bottom of every bottle, script, syringe,
Anything really as long as I don’t
Have to think of the words you put in my head,
It must have been really bad for you
Living with me must have been hell for you
So you beat me, and over a long period of time
You make me paranoid, antisocial, scared, intimidated,
No sense of feeling. YOU WIN. I feel that way today!
You say you love me and …

By Michael

Dark depression never dies
You, you will never cry
Darkness, darkness everywhere
You will be in despair

Oh no what can I do
The demons, demons are after you
There, there is nowhere to run
Oh my God, there is no time for fun

Oh my God, I cry out for help
But help is not there
Bloody hell I have to take the easy way out
Because there is no one to help.

Michael sells The Big Issue in Canberra.

My love I find in the strangest place
Peering into windowed, mirrored room
Glossy orbs fill with desire
And stare a long lonely gaze
Soft skin like satiny silk
Luscious lips like peaches’ nectar
Emotions flood like a tidal wave
Washing hate and pain away
A quick glance as I depart
No words were exchanged
Only a heart-filled gaze
I’ll never see this love again
So I’ll caress her gently in my dreams.

David L is unemployed and lives in Bunbury.

By Michael B

This country and society has discriminated against gays and lesbians for far too long. There are no federal laws recognising gay and lesbian couples. It is shameful to discriminate against someone just because of who they love.

Right now there are 60 different laws in this country that discriminate against gays and lesbians. For starters, they can’t get married and are not recognised as a couple legally. Centrelink doesn’t recognise them as a couple, they can’t receive pensions or super when their lover dies.

Why can’t gays and lesbians …

In Adelaide and other towns in South OZ, we survive only by recycling the already polluted Murray water through an established filtering and cleaning system. This system cleans the water to a point where it is fit enough for us to drink and use for other things. When the proposed desalination unit (which will be a good thing?) is built, it will, unfortunately, only supply water to places that are already connected to the mains water infrastructure – not to our struggling farmers.

I believe we should redirect Adelaide’s waste water …