To give or not to give

JAMES DAVIS Artist/Vendor

As a giver, I gave all my love until it hurt, and all my possessions that were valuable meant nothing to me anymore.

I was still young on my journey, and life has shown me the beauty in giving, but I need to have limitations.

Takers surround me like sharks, thirsty for blood from my heart like water.

Now, in the late years of my journey, still not free from giving; now, I give my all to me.

Beauty

JACKIE TURNER

Artist/Vendor

The look of her eyes is bright, shining like onyx sparkle. Built like a perfect model. Nothing overbearing or out of place. She looks well, healthy. She has good hygiene. Keeping a low profile and being humble improves the personality. Mastering the art of listening — that is beauty.

This is my concept of beauty. What I believe is true beauty.

Angels

JEN MCLAUGHLIN

Artist/Vendor

There are angels all around on the street, over the highway, looking over us. When we fall, even in our darkest hour, they've picked us back up and guide us through the light. You are never alone —- the angel is smiling right at you.

Respect

KYM PARKER

Artist/Vendor

When we learn, we learn this at an early age: when we were children our parents told us to love, respect, and show compassion for all of God’s children; in our mid-teens, we are filled with everything that She has taught us —faith, respect, love, self-love, these are all lessons given to us by Her. When we learn to do these things, our world is better. Respect, when we learn this, it helps us as we get older; it is like a comforter, a blanket, it shields us when we are cold, and it never goes away. Respect one another, when we pass, we understand our soul goes to a better place. We find love when we respect and love ourselves. The spiritual path is different, there is no Good or Evil; it is what it is. Ask me the same thing, Truly, I still don’t get it; I feel the pain, when I feel the pain. I acknowledge Evil when it’s in front of me, but it helps to understand that it’s all in God’s hands now. Respect

Mywish

JEANETTE RICHARDSON

Artist/Vendor

I wish I had a nickel, I wish I had a dime. I wish I had the right day, the right time, so I could use my birthright, my mind to channel the culture of my ancestors.

Light of the angels

Ariel above me, Michael beneath me, Rachael to my feet, Gabriel to my right, by the power of these angels, surround me with light.

The hold of time

CARLTON JOHNSON

Artist/Vendor

Time will work on the daytime, what can come to one, the hold on time helps me hold.

Heatly touched

CARLTON JOHNSON

Artist/Vendor

The touch of the drill

Heat fingernail

Fold to the hour of heat

The cream of the love held pure.

January

RONALD SMOOT

Artist/Vendor

Roses are red and the sky is blue. Soon I will go to work and may you will too. In the landscape of January days this is always true. But at the end of time maybe you and I believe the world will be beautiful like you and God too. I realize now that we all will be blessed for the rest of our lives and the sun will shine like the rest of us too.

Spring morning begins

AMINA WASHINGTON

Artist/Vendor

One day I woke up, Rain fell in my cup.

Two birds sing a song, They sang all day long.

Early bird gets the worm, oh, how the day gets warm. Children play, it’s spring — oh, what a beautiful thing!

Rain, shine, and sun how fun. A new season begun, this is how I describe the day. Come all children and play, this can be so good to do, I’m having fun today; how about you?

No taxation, no representation

JEFFREY CARTER

Artist/Vendor

Just because you buy a house in Washington, D.C., it doesn’t mean you own that property forever. If you don’t pay your property tax, your home could be taken from you by the government. And if you do pay your taxes, the government can still take your property from you if they really needed it for a community improvement project or something similar. So, you don’t really own anything in Washington, D.C. You’re just borrowing.

New Year’s Resolutions

ANGIE WHITEHURST

Artist/Vendor

I will not walk, bus, drive, taxi, Lyft, Uber or bicycle by a homeless or housing-challenged person either on the street, the avenues, in tented villages or in the parks and look and act as though:

• You are invisible, homeless, smelly or unkempt.

• I don’t see you.

• I don’t know you.

• I don’t speak with people like you.

• I will not remember you.

• I will not go out of my way to give you either food, clothes, information, a dollar or a fare card, much less an ounce of sense recognizing the time of any sun- or a moon-lighted day or anybody’s circadian clock.

No, I am not going to do that!

Yes, I am going to recognize, speak, appreciate and make a special effort to acknowledge that human is excluded. They are born in this city and they do exist. This New Year’s Resolution is as old as human existence: Housing is a human right! No more human displacement. Housing now!

Cheers, my friends.

Reunions

PATTY SMITH Artist/Vendor

My sister Darlene visited me the other week and promised to visit again in March 2023. Last year, we met up with my Aunt Ruth and my cousin Tiffany. Aunt Ruth is retired and Tiffany teaches fourth graders. Both of them live in Maryland. But my sister Darlene lives in the state of Florida. We drove all over Washington, D.C. during her visit and ate a Japanese restaurant. Later that night, we checked into our hotel. Darlene stayed in town for three days and we had so much fun together.