How do I spend thee?
How do americans spend this bill?
Even too cheap for a delivery tip
But can be a poem contest fee
54 pesos to a dollar sometimes 53
it fluctuates, its oil dependent
as per economy's situation
and peace and order too
With a dollar...
2 packs of cigarettes in 20's
a pirated CD or VCD
a cheap shirt for home use
unbranded bra or lipstick
your Chocolate Hershey bar
can buy us 2 kilos of rice
good enough for the day
plus a dollar or two for the viand
Your $600-$800 apartment rent
already a budget I keep for 30days
inclussive of bills, education fees
foods and kids' allowances
But come to think of it
In every hard-earned dollar bill
A poor family's day's meal
Not only in the Philippines
Elsewhere in poor countries
With a dollar I keep in my pocket
There's a message I can't forget
I think of my brother in LA
My relatives in Texas, USA
And the impoverished in whole Africa
~~~~~~~~~~~~
*just the bare truth...
Cynthia Aluning
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/with-a-dollar-a-message-to-convey/
