The Drop Inn Center is a homeless shelter in Over-the-Rhine, working to provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness, and to empower people to move from homelessness to housing. Men of the InkTank Drop Inn Center recovery program meet every Thursday afternoon to use writing to reflect on the relationships, hardships, joys, and sorrows of life in order to strengthen the participant's relationship to himself and his past--a key step in recovery. Watch a video about the Drop Inn Center's program at InkTank and read selections of member-generated creative writing below.

"Standing by the Drop" by James Lavender I'm an unemployed man, standing by the Drop Just looking for work, the "temp" was a flop I'm not a bad person, and don't intend to be Living to get better, I want society to see I stand here some days, day in and day out Most days are idle, so I stand here and pout At times like this, I don't really understand Standing in front of the Drop, I dealt myself this hand But as I raise my head, I see a glimmer of hope There is a chance for work, no time for dope If I work long enough, my day will be complete Unlike others here, I have a family to feed They are my priority, first and foremost Maybe breakfast in the morning, bacon, eggs, and toast But it will all depend on whether an employer stops So until then, I'm still unemployed, standing in front of the Drop.

"Didn't I" by D. Ellis When I first used Didn't I become addicted When I denied the truth of my addiction Didn't I lie When I got paid Didn't I wake up broke When I ran out of money Didn't I steal When I had responsibilities Didn't I forget When our families tried to help Didn't I turn away When I had no food or smokes Didn't I beg When I thought I could hide my drug use Didn't I go to jail When I got out and lost everything Didn't I do it again "Let's Give Thanks" by Delmar Let's give thanks for this wonderful day For the gift of life and the will to pray The heavens fair and the earth so sweet The friends so dear that we chance to meet Let's give thanks for the sun that shines so bright The light of dawn and the shining stars at night The spring time rain and the summer breeze The mountains, the streams and the spreading trees Let's give thanks for this blessing For a family so dear and the love we share The little ones and the smiles they bring For a goodly portion of everything Let's give thanks for the humble way With peace in our hearts as we kneel to pray Our eyes and our souls ever looking above Let's give thanks for our God above.