Monday, August 10, 2015

Inherited Poverty ~

autumn leaf lying on the street Stock Photo - 40887779


The evening sky
   tiptoeing on the pebbled streets
Makes my mind rustle through
   the urban's tortuous lanes.
The sundown still soaking
         in the last rays of sun, one day
Raise my vision--- a keepsake for lifetime!
Scattered, strewn starving street kids and orphans
flitting like bees from flower to flower
in search of nectar...or, a morsel of food 
             -----whisper something.
Isn't it a shame in the era of progress?
Especially the obsession of GDP!?
Feeling the pull at the heel;
I stare quietly and wonder
Is God there...?
Is He fair...?
Such horrific thoughts frighten me
The price of inherited poverty a child has to pay
is so so cruel, so terrible
it rattles the bones, swallows all sentience
A few tears leave my lashes
Hence my lament....
Save the street children-
they deserve shelter, food and attention
Dignity is an absolute must,
Poor are not so many
Who cannot be fed by mankind
Hunger is painful,
              it's staying awake the long, long night
Stop being mindless, ruthless, unconcerned.
Awaken! Feed the poor, and
never leave them to lick 
the leftovers ... or, at the mercy of God above


---


The reminder of our failures as a society to protect the vulnerable by ensuring we provide them with safe alternatives. That’s what’s ugly about the street and children out of place – not the children and their practices, but society and it’s apathy towards the lack of alternative care.

shared with : Poets Untied



26 comments:

  1. Such a heartfelt & wise piece.
    Beautifully executed!

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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    1. Thank you, Sanaa!! Always nice having you here....
      Much love,

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  2. There are people dying because they eat too much.. it should be simple one to solve in reality... sharing should be possible.

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    1. Thank you, brudberg. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed!!

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  3. Yes, one cannot help but wonder sometimes where God is...when there are so many children living in poverty. But even as I wonder sometimes where GOD is, I wonder where MAN is in all of this! Thought-provoking write.

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary. I feel, we owe all to them. As for GOD...I think, God chooses some and rejects others. sigh!

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  4. The plight of the poor especially of the street children. Sometimes life is an unfair especially to those who have no freewill to choose the lives they wanted.

    A very sensitive piece of writing, Panchali

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    1. The plight of the poor kids are pathetic. When I see them hungry, it makes me very sad. Every child deserve the best start in life.
      Thanks a bunch for the kind comment, Totomai. I truly appreciate.

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  5. Yes, God must be tearing his hair out in heaven over mankind's slowness to wake up and get down to basics - feeding the children.

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    1. Well said, Sherry. There is no exercise better for the community than reaching down and lifting these kids up. Hope we shall all accept the fact gracefully one day, Fingers Crossed!
      Thank you so much.

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  6. Very thought provokking. The distance between the classes has always been there. It is very unfortunate.

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    1. It is unfortunate indeed, Usha. It's strange, how a few people could live in luxury while billions dwelt in misery and deprivation...Sigh!
      Thanks a lot for reading and for your comments.

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  7. Such societies are truly poor...here poverty dwells in belly as well as in hearts...very well penned Panchali di...

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    1. Statistics show how often people die of hunger, Sadly, it is children who die most often. People should come together to tackle a campaign to make the world suck less...
      Thanks you so much, Sumana. Very humbling...:)

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  8. How true, though we have reached moon, mars, pluto but still we haven't reached to these kids:(

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    1. The sad fact remains that despite a conveniently low notion of poverty adopted by the government, one in every four Indian kid is hungry. This is abysmal, but the truth is that the situation is even worse.
      Thanks a lot for being here, Vandana.

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  9. Such an honest and open poem - it is sad - there really is no need for anyone to go hungry or live in a way that lacks dignity/is not human..such a pity that we don't disturb the world's resources evenly

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    1. Spot on!! No human being should have their dignity compromised. Poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice make it impossible to live a life commensurate with this dignity.
      A lack of forethought in policy has almost destroyed the planet, and still might..... The stakes are too high to waste time evading the issue. !!! I pray they get justice...
      Thank you, Jae for that meaningful comment. Truly appreciate.

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  10. A needful reminder of a very sad situation.

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    1. Thank you, Rosemary. Hope no child is left hungry hereon....

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  11. This is what Jesus called us to.

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    1. Sure...so whosoever oppresses the hungry insults God! Thank you, Meisner.

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  12. I heard somewhere once that no child needs go hungry because the world has enough for every man's need but people are starving nonetheless because of some men's greed. Such a sad reality :-(

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    1. Oh, hunger is a terrifying torture... I can’t think of anything more important than working to see that no kid in this world goes hungry. Sad reality, CC.
      Thanks so much for reading...and for the comments.

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  13. Children - our future, so, indeed to feed them - our first basic task. Your words touch me deeply, powerful write!

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  14. Beautifully written Panchali. I have often felt that isnt the whole thing so ludicrous - we have the food and we have mouths to be fed, but we would rather let it rot then feed the hungry. Do we need to go back to Step 1 and start all over again.

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