Poverty Poem

Here is another poem... :) This is for my friend Kristian (Hey_You!) because she requested that I do another one :) So here it is! Enjoy :)

Today, a girl is dying.

You must have seen her, with cracked hands
And cheeks as hollow as her eyes, staring defiantly
At every person that passes her without a glance.

She thinks they must be able to smell it on her:
The bitter tang of metals and grit in her water
And the faint but penetrating scent of sickness.

She sells candies and paper flowers from a cart,
And stands up straight with her dress hanging
Like a sack, though it was a lovely yellow once.

Every so often as she passes her wares to a buyer,
She thinks that the petals and colorful wrappers
Look like wishes should; but she cannot have them.

She must always return to the same cramped room
And dream fitfully of fresh food, health, and comfort
While life pales from her face, like the waxing moon.

One cannot live on bread alone,
But that would be a start.


Bye for now :)

Julia Wilkie