Poverty Poem by Astell Collins

Poverty has robbed me of my history
As it tries to assault me
Forever looking for a job, something to do
Protecting my future from what I’ve been through
Tenaciously crying out in my prayers
Poverty will not be the reasons for my fears
It will not take me captive
For my generation I have to live
We misunderstand the purpose of prosperity
Forever blinded we continue to abuse it instead of setting the captives free
Never looking out for the children
We invest instead in buildings
So many haunting questions lingers in my mind
When I see my brothers out of desperation turning to crime
I see us depleting every single week
Tempted to react but I am obedient so I turn the other cheek
Frustration seeps into my brain
As I look for a way of escape or someone to explain
We ourselves are instruments of affliction for miniscule gains
Never noticing that the effect of poverty remains