Whilst I
Don my apron you shed your clothes
Whilst I
Enter the kitchen you enter your bedroom
Whilst I
Turn on the cooker you turn off the light
Both of one world, one earth, one soil, one creator
Whilst I
Prepare the feast
You lay yourself down
Another night of sleep on an empty stomach
Hunger gnaws away at your insides
Whilst tears
Burn away at my eyes
Whilst you close yours to another night
Mine has just begun
How can a morsel of food pass my lips
Knowing that you sleep one more night without
Guilt consumes me
I call myself your sister
Yet you my brother suffer
One of life’s many injustices
Tell me what to do
Share your burden
Let me bear it with you
You say thank the lord for your blessings
But how?
For it is not a blessing that you go without and I enjoy
Whilst my little ones
Clutter my kitchen
Emptiness surrounds you
Mama! Mama! Mama! They cry
Like each meal is their last
Whilst my beloved
Watches with love in his eyes
Hungrily awaiting the treasures that I prepare
Awaiting his next meal
You pray for just one
And I….
Think of you
My heart sinks deeper
Till it feels like it’s drowning in misery and helplessness
Whilst you…
My brother sink deeper into sleep
Hunger fills your empty stomach with just
Another night
Lilac Wine
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hunger-fills-your-empty-stomach-with-just-another-night/
