Orphan In The Sudan

Tears on his cheek

who shall wipe them

reassure him

that there's light

at the end of the dark horizon?



Face suntanned

gummy-eyed

and ajar is a mouth

porched by malnutrition.

So weak to whipe his nose.



Numped by cold, hungry

hiding in unsheltered bushes.

His dark skin so sickly

is he an image

or some walking shadow?



All around him

echo the rattle of thunder

Lead against human targets

killing the virtue humanity

in the name of liberation.



Gives a blank gaze

into the black sky.

Mist and the colour of smoke

but so innocent to understand

that he should suffer so.



Today has set

twilight hurries to his heart

hunger bites with intense pangs

he waits for the plane

to drop his ration.



I pray for you, my child

that dawn comes anew

laden with promise

of humanity`s rebirth....today

He nods hopefully....he nods

Author's Notes/Comments: 

Children suffer most in war...hunger, death, everything so bizzar to the innocent.....ah!

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Abritelite A's picture

you have given this so much meaning, leaving nothing to anyone's imagination, it just flows so much truth to the situation that is faced over there, your poetry really tells the story.
please visit our postpoems site, your work would go well.
Mandy

Melvin Lee II's picture

A very thoughtful and provocative piece, Milton...
especially the lines:
'Face suntanned
gummy-eyed
and ajar is a mouth
porched by malnutrition.
So weak to whipe his nose.'

How can a body go so weak, that he has not even the mere strength to lift his arms to his nose ?
...very miserable.
Thanxs for sharing this.
A most saddening and poignant piece.

ugonna's picture

The haunting imagery of this poem
is vivid and meaningful considering
the reality of the Sudanese Orphan
it explores...

An unequivocal call of urgency to
humanity to care for and love those
of us living in the shadows whether
we are in Africa or any part of the
world for that matter: Indeed, the
message would still be the same in
all of its yearning invocation:

"I pray for you, my child
that dawn comes anew
ladden with promise
of humanity's rebirth....today
..."

Let us then, as humanity, rise
to the urgency of making better
and lovingly bearable the deeply
sad situation of the
"Orphan In The Sudan"

I am soulfully enriched having read
this poem; this new day! And being
a full blooded African of Nigerian
extraction, I can touchingly relate
to the truthful reality of this poem
with tears in my weary eyes....

Ugonna

deborah's picture

The way that I can relate to this is with my heart. It is not comfortable for me to think of what men do to women and children for the supposed sake of politics and religion. Thank you for sharing.
To me, this poem is written very well, your use of words simply intensifies the injustice and inhumanity.