Homeless in the Eighties

In Homeless in the Eighties, Claire Burch begins with tough-talking free-verse that tells the facts and feelings of the homeless experience in a blunt but evocative style. She takes the reader on a thorough tour of homeless life the shelters, the soup kitchens, the crash pads, and gives the non-homeless an intimate glimpse of the bonding and conflicts between the drifters. Alternating between the voice of the poet and the voice of the street, Burch describes the situation and doesn't hesitate to place the blame. The rest of the book is devoted to her photos of people on the street, expanding on her themes. Like the poetry, the pictures are often angry and accusatory, but again there is warmth and humanity as well. The images show a range and depth of emotion, intercut with surreal paintings and collages in revealing juxtapositions. It is a spirited book. Perhaps sentimental, certainly poignant, but not at all a tear-jerker aimed at the soft touch. It's simply very honest and direct a strong expression of a knowledgeable view on a very human predicament, as complex as human predicaments always must be.