National Adult Literacy Database

December 8, 2003

The following poem was written by André Girard, from Vancouver, BC. André recently participated in a writing project coordinated by the Vancouver Community College, Basic Education Department. The project, called Writing Soup, was a partnership between the First United Church, in the heart of Downtown Eastside Vancouver, and the Vancouver Community College, BED. It resulted in a collection of writings and artwork entitled Boiling Over : Writings from the Heart of Vancouver.

A Need for Love

by André Girard

This poem came to me on the outskirts of Winnipeg, going east on 16, sun shining, birds singing, as I found myself writing. It's about the need for love that we all experience at one time. I guess it was my time.

I will not lie to you. I was not born a saint,
I did things in my life that would make a prostitute blush.
But when it comes to loving,
I am a guy just like the others.

I have a lot to give, to help forget my faults.
I am not a genius, but I'm not an imbecile,
Everything that I have learned,
from time to time I can use.

If you're looking for a guy
who will wrap you in his arms
and whisper sweet tender words,
It's me.

If you're looking for a guy
and you don't quite know why,
someone who has so much for you,
It's me.

[This poem was taken with permission, from a collection of writings and artwork entitled Boiling Over : Writings from the Heart of Vancouver, p. 28.]