Open Poetry #19 |
I am Khali Gul |
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I am Khali Gul. God-Allah has taken my man. God-Allah has taken my tiny son. God-Allah has taken my tiny daughter. Soon he shall take me. Will my last child be spared? I smell the neighbor’s baking bread. They are very rich. They eat at least once each day. Before me is a bowl of grasses, wildly foraged from the Freezing foothills of my village. Grasses that even Euell Gibbons would have passed by. The aroma of the bread fills my head. I chew my barley grass and weeds. Maybe next fall I will also have some seeds. I wait for Spring, while I smell the bread. Ah, a cup of Starbucks would be nice. FYI, This article was my inspiration. I am unable to address the other issue...selling or trading a child for food. That one overwhelms me. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/08/international/asia/08HUNG.html?todaysheadlines [This message has been edited by Midnitesun (03-08-2002 01:37 PM).] |
||
© Copyright 2002 Kathleen Kacy Stafford - All Rights Reserved | |||
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Midnite What a picture of contradictions, in this wonderful poem. So unique...loved it! |
||
jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
You're a TRIP! Great chuckle here...Love your spirit, your life there...give me more..."take me with you...", and loved this. jwesley |
||
Duncan Member Ascendant
since 2001-08-07
Posts 5455 |
Good to see your social consciousness at work again, Kacy! |
||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Martie, thanks for reading and commenting. The irony of it is, this news article about bartering children for food was juxtaposed alongside a Starbucks coffee credit card ad. jwesley, you have to find some way to deal with this kind of reality. Irony and humor may be the only way to get this serious message across without making someone gag on their morning java or donut. Duncan, it's good to be here today. I don't get my Pips fix often enough lately. But I would sure rather write silly funny anecdotal poetry, or about never-ending passionate romantic love. |
||
Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
(tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Kacy, I couldn't help but cry reading this, it saddens me to se so many families sacrifice their children for food and children torn away from their families! (sigh) This is very powerful and has much irony and humor in the message outside of it, sweet friend, we all love you so much, God Bless You! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Kacy, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton |
||
Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
You have to laugh at it Kacy, there are is so much of this these days, and even if it just raises our level of social consciousness then it has served. Good jobber! ~* Without deep reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people ." *~ |
||
Soleil Noir Senior Member
since 2001-12-19
Posts 688USA |
It is not every one who can write politics, but when I see those that can, I applaud them! A very good job on a timely matter. Thank you. |
||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Noah, thanks for helping me release some frustration over this. some days I look at my fridge and anguish over not having any butter left for my biscuits. And then I remember people like this, and I shut up. Mysteria, thanks sweet sister. You know where I'm coming from. If I could feed them all, I would, and so would you. Soleil noir, thank you for your reply. I feel so totally helpless sometimes, and to change anything is such a daunting task. A poem or two and a care package once or twice a year is all I have to give, besides my heart and soul and tears. |
||
kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
A poem or two and a care package once or twice a year is all I have to give, besides my heart and soul and tears. well, you helped to raise awareness with your poem or two..if enough of us know of such injustice, perhaps a difference can be made... p/s: i clicked on the link and was led to some page that says "Register at NYTimes"...has the article been replaced?? |
||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Heng, the link works for me, but perhaps only because I have a (free) subscription to their online daily news. In essence, the article is about a father in Afghanistan who bartered away two of his children to pay for wheat to feed the rest of his family. It is a fairly common thing to do in some third world countriess. The Khali Gul story is a part of this tragic story. Thank you for reading, but mostly for your level of awareness and compassion, and for seeking a way to help stop these real life tragedies. |
||
kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
hi again.. i wonder if you have heard of this site before but here's the link www.thehungersite.com they are doing some worthy work there...you may even want to write a poem about it too! |
||
Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Poetry with a conscience opens our eyes and grants a view we might not see in our own space. So good to see you posting again poetess Kacy. thanks for sharing this and enlightening us. Awake again I can't pretend ... and I know I'm alone ... |
||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Heng, thanks for posting that link. I am familiar with it, but haven't visited it in a while. JM, thank you so much for your comment. People like Khali Gul need someone on their side, to speak out for them. She is my sister, as much as any other woman on Earth. Her suffering hurts us all. |
||
Saunni Senior Member
since 2000-07-11
Posts 1777West Virginia |
Oh, a very, very powerful write here! I read it twice. Excellent! Take care. Oh, btw, like have you received my emails? Sauni @~~~>~~ |
||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
No, Saunni, I haven't received any emails today. Come to think of it, it's been almost two days since I had anything other than my online news subscriptions. My server must not be serving me properly again. Thanks for reading Khali Gul. |
||
⇧ top of page ⇧ | ||
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. |