A recent day was revelation day, at least for me.

Actually, every day I work here is a surprise or revelation, but this day was filled with inspiration, revelation, amazement, beauty and sorrow.

It was a poetry workshop evening, with young adults ages 21-30. It was "Where I Come From" day, “My Roots Are ..." day, The Hill's version of “This Is Your Life”.

Three men, three women, myself and a facilitator in an unheated room at 7 at night sitting around a folding table on green metal chairs.

This was a miracle movie, no one will believe evening. Two young men, newly hatched from prison, had poems, notebooks full, heads full of poetry that had their names written on its past, present and all their futures.

Poetry got them through all those bad years. They spoke, and their voices were all the young men rising up and moving on. Their words were strong, beautiful and heart-breaking. Their excitement intense and contagious.

Here's a sample of that poetry, written by Smokey, who recently was released after spending six years in state prison:

Alone
Alone, all alone
Nobody but me here.
Surrounded by hundreds of people,
But still all alone,
Patiently waiting to leave here.
Where is here?
I don’t know,
But still all alone,
Hurt and devastated by loneliness,
Troubled by the unknown.
The unknown is a place where I don’t wanna be,
Filled with deep sadness, terrible sadness,
Taken away from family and my earth,
A place where I can hardly breathe.
I’m sad and lonely,
Troubled, devastated and hurt
But most of all alone.

Let no one say art is dead. Poetry is alive and thriving in Hamilton Hill, a bridge to the other side of life: self respect, honor and pride.

This day was revelation day.

QUEST is a community-based organization that provides a safe environment, free meals, counseling, art and recreation programs that keep Hamilton Hill children in school, out of trouble and on track for better lives. For more information on QUEST, visit www.questkids.net.