Ghetto Burdens, The Heaviest Poem by John Sensele

From gangling ghettoes
We emerge and surge
Groaning and mourning in our dirge
Blisters of poverty butcher toes

That ain't felt tender touches of shoes
Shambling everyday from one corner of our town
Eking out a meagre living till our teeth turn brown
We heave sighs of blues

Munching slices of air
Bread we can't afford
Ona crocodile infested river we cross the fragile ford
Arguing it ain't fair

For urchins' stomachs to distend
For their heights to stunt
For their future to grunt
When towards greed our depleted defences tend.