It’s late August and hot as Hades, but storm clouds are brewing on the horizon promising to bring some relief. It’s a humid heat, jeans are out of the question - my long linen skirt is the only option for weather like this, paired with a thin t-shirt and converse shoes. In response to the humidity, my hair is wild and curly, there is no point attempting to straighten it, so it's twisted up in a loose bun, a few curly tendrils frame my face. Despite the AC running in my centur

Shelter It’s late October, the trees have lost their leaves and cold crisp wind is blowing across grey skies as I start my trusty old BMW and turn on the heat. I glance at myself in the rear view mirror and sigh, not my best look, but it will have to do, I think, as I plug my phone into the aux cord and tune into the local radio station. I’m still adjusting to the schedule that came with my new job at the women’s shelter in the city, in order to be there for the 7am start tim

I set out on my journey, Followed paths of the damned, Home so far behind, what lies ahead unknown, I ask myself, What am I trying to find? Dark streets, cold nights, hazy rooms and flashing lights, My head spins, mesmerized Girls, on the corner, under the lights Flimsy dresses, bedroom eyes Waiting for the man as he drives by The music booms across the room, Drowning out the news of a killer on the loose, As he pulls up, and she steps in. Men, dressed in black, with their b

Jane It’s late August now and already the air feels noticeably cooler in the evenings, and downright chilly in the morning, a portent for an early winter, I think as I sit on my back porch and sip a hot cup of coffee. My mind wanders to the list of things yet to be done before winter sets in, the house must be prepared, motorcycle and dirt bikes stored, winter tires and maintenance. And of course, school supplies and attire. I sigh and get up and open the creaky weathered bac

It’s odd to be sitting in a criminology class, and to be learning about things like crime and poverty and how it’s all entangled, and it’s also sad, because obviously we have known for a long time what causes crime, and we know that we need to be building strong communities, and we need to be giving everyone an equal footing to start life off with. But that’s not how our world is, despite all of our knowledge. As someone who has experienced more than her share of life, which