Tomorrow’s Adults Poem by Daniel Omaya

Do not look away in disgust
While you move past that child
He is naked, starved and desperate
Like fish in a drying river
Look at that child with pity

Do not close your eyes as you by-pass those children
You will still see them in your vision, in your dreams
That round owl-eyed child
That elephant-eared one
And the other dog chinned, are all victims of starvation.

Do not turn a deaf ear to their screams
While they do not scream at you,
They scream for help – and yours could do,
As we build for tomorrow.

See that one with stiff, swollen stomach?
The other with endless running nose?
And those with scaly skin?
They are all languid and preys of sicknesses.

Let’s join hands my kinsman
Against child neglect and abuse
Let’s come together my neighbor
And save the children of our nation
For they belong to us:
A child is a community asset
And an adult of tomorrow.