A world view from 2003

In 2003, I was browsing channels one Saturday morning, and I saw this World Vision charity ad, where they were showing these little children who tug on your heartstrings – looking hungry and hopeless. One of the news channels, was simultaneously showing a huge debate among world leaders aimed at ending world poverty. These leaders did not look like they even knew what these children go through. These words show my reaction to this contrasting world view. The children, we view as our future and hope for tomorrow are left to starve and beg, while the leaders sit back and debate until nothing gets resolved.

Empty Dreams

Fools that we are in this real world
They remain forgotten by all but me.
Honor, riches and integrity sold
To the scavengers for free.

Dying words, broken tears
All that is left for me to see.
Scanty food and dwindling cheers
Nothing but irons binding the glee.

Tattered clothes swirling free
Stomachs grumbling with hunger and pain
Brown and muddy, the children see
Nothing but food on the chocolate train.

Eyes beseeching, hands outstretched
They stand in a row begging to you.
Gaudy fools ignore the little hands outstretched
While they gobble, slurp and disgustingly chew.

The strain on their faces etched
The pain in their eyes missed
Their empty dreams, so farfetched
Their only aim to have food enough to exist.

These children await a tomorrow
As dark as the hungry night approaching
As dirty as the clothes they borrow
As sad as the empty dreams soon encroaching.

Hopeless they sleep
Vainly for help, they await
While they wait and weep
Gluttonous fools eat and debate.

By,
Angela Archana Vincent