A homeless Haringey poet is going to have his work published thanks to a kind stranger.
Support worker Brandon Ashford created a gofundme to raise money to publish poetry and organise a reading and meet and greet for a homeless poet, James, based outside a Wood Green gym.
Ashford has put £180 towards publishing 20 chapbooks, small pamphlets containing James’ poetry, but the fundraiser aims to raise £500 for 50 chapbooks.
Ashford said: “To see James take a different route to gain humanity is a really powerful message.
“He’s seeking a connection which is so heartbreaking for me and that’s why I’m doing this big push to get him seen and valued in society’s eyes.”
Ashford will take photos of James’ poems and upload them to a publishing site which will create the chapbooks and deliver them to Ashford’s house.
James was blown away by the donations and told Ashford that there are good people in the world and that’s why you shouldn’t give up.
The event will be in Wood Green and Ashford will give James a hot meal and a shower beforehand.
There will be a donation bucket to help the homeless community through the winter.
Ashford said: “It’s important for people to see their own worth and I want to help James see his own worth and see the value of his art.”
Ashford first approached James a year and a half ago while leaving the gym and saw a sign which read, ‘Let me read my poems for you’.
This prompted Ashford’s conversation and now when he sees James, he buys him a sandwich and a coffee and listens to his poetry.
Ashford emphasised: “He’s never asked me for anything and I think that’s the most beautiful part.”
The first poem James read to Ashford was, ‘We reap what we sew’ which details the struggles of his life.
James said: “My style comes from the torture of being out on the street, what I’ve been exposed to, violence, drugs, overdoses, fights.”
Ashford added: “It’s a reflection of his reality.”
Ashford wants to help James because to him it has been a good day if he has made someone’s life easier.
Ashford said: “It’s clear he’s very talented.
“That’s what led me to keep going back, I was interested. I was actually invested in what other new ones he had.”
James was homeless in Newcastle for seven years and then he married into a traveller family which brought him to London but he became homeless again once he left the marriage.
As a child, James was asked to read a bible passage in church and has since loved poetry.
James said: “Poetry is my therapy.”
He believes what makes a good writer is experiencing what you are writing.
He said: “I write my best poetry when I’m at my worst.”
His poetry is free as the most important thing about poetry for him is sharing it.
James has lost the use of his right arm which affects his poetry as he used to edit poems while writing.
He still reads poems aloud but feels like he cannot express himself like he used to.
James said: “My writing has been taken away from me.”
Images courtesy of Brandon Ashford, with thanks
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