What Is Their Offence? Poem by Kingsley Egbukole

A visit to "Mercy Home"
For widows, orphans and destitutes
A humanitarian gesture though small
Innocent eyes stared fixedly at me
Eyes of want lacking parental warmth
Tears swelled my eyes
I turned toward the window to conceal
Prevent my colleagues from noticing

Lifted one of them up
Barely one year old and frail
She looked me straight in the eyes
Took a deep breath
And placed her little head on my shoulder
My heart melted in pains

I felt her need of parental love
And wondered within myself
It could have been me
It could have been any of my children
What is their offence?
We are not more righteous than them
But the good Lord spared us.

(Tuesday19th November,2019,1.15pm)