Philadelphia’s Parker administration took action Wednesday to remove 50 people remaining at a Kensington Avenue tent city, the final push in a month-long “encampment resolution” that’s cracking down on an area estimated to hold about 39 percent of Philly’s unhoused population. That news inspired community organizer and poet LindoYes to write the following poem, recalling the eviction of his own family when he was in the third grade. In the video above, he performs that poem, titled “Landlord,” from the scene of the encampment sweep.
Landlord
Granny said the lord going to bless us Next day, the landlord evicted us Never seen my mom fold That day I saw her Fold clothes Fold her hands in prayers Folds under her eyes I Folded myself inside of myself Packed all I cared about inside myself As we went to a place we said we never go No where Know where I packed my feelings? Into baggage I carry Til this day
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