Since 2003, D.C. residents have been able to pick up a copy of the now bi-monthly newspaper Street Sense from a local vendor for a dollar. Inside, one finds in-depth reporting on issues of homelessness and poverty, profiles of vendors — members of the homeless who make 75 cents off every paper sold — information on services by shelters, veterans groups and other organizations, book reviews (the current issue tackles John Edwards’ Ending Poverty in America), and, of course, a Sudoku puzzle.

Smack in the middle of the issue is the poetry corner, with works written by the homeless or formerly homeless. After over 100 issues, Street Sense has compiled these into a book, Street Verses. The publication held a launch party last weekend at Busboys and Poets that included a poetry reading, a musical interlude by guitar-strumming Dennis Sobin from the Prisons Foundation, and a preview of Street Sense TV.

The 81-page book is mostly the story of homelessness from experience, from the feeling of terrible hunger overcoming pride at accepting help, to sitting beneath a beautiful tree during autumn and watching its leaves fall for hours. Some poets cover expected turf, like August Mallory’s “He Once Had A Home,” the straightforward ponderings of a man as “Over and over and over the question continues to linger in his mind / ‘how did it all happen?'” Some verses explore how faith can help reconcile moments and mistakes that lead to homelessness, such as Anonymous’ “The Prisoner,” who eloquently describes Caesar “unashamed when bending his knee,” asking forgiveness for his failings.

Photo of Jesse Smith, also this month’s Featured Vendor, reading from Street Verses at the launch party.