Beyond the wall of windows in my mother’s apartment

Is a kaleidoscope of colour, natural beauty and activity

The green of the grass

The blue of the ocean

And the white of the sailboats on the water

The grey of the high rises

And the red bricks of the walking path    

People exercising

People walking their dogs

People going to work

People driving by 

It’s a beehive of activity

And Vancouver’s beauty shines 

In the sunshine of the morning 

Everything seems to sparkle

But not everyone is happy in this city by the ocean

The sight of the homeless and drug addicted

On Main Street breaks my heart

A man whose clothes hang loose on his thin limbs

Talks to another person, a desperate look on his face

A tent is set up on the side walk

Creating a temporary place for respite

A man crosses the street on a red pedestrian light

Pushing a shopping cart containing all his belongings 

One can’t look at the lights to drive across intersections

Some people with blank stares cross at any time 

Oblivious of what’s going on around them

The ugliness of poverty and despondency

Coexists with the beauty of nature and the opulence

Of the high rises tastefully designed

I try to focus on the beauty 

But not forget that many people

Are in need in this city of contradictions

August 24th, 2021