Poverty Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Poverty - the slums where children have to fight their
way just to exist, where parents either don't care or
can't afford to care.

Stench of human waste lies heavily in the air and child-
ren's clothes hang dirtily from clotheslines in total dis-
repair.

No one cares.

A little one standing alone and crying, wishing for a
little milk to drink, waiting for someone to put some
shoes or clothes upon his freezing body.

No one steps up to help, this little child ends up with
pneumonia, falling asleep on the pavement with a fever,
people walk on by not stopping to see if they can help.

Can you still ask what poverty means after seeing this?

Poverty. No one cares.