I used to visit
And spend time with my uncle
At the graveyard
Where he patiently abides
His eternal stay.
I then began to visit
Cemeteries whose residents
I was unfamiliar with
In obeisance to the universal dead.
Once, at an old, unkempt graveyard,
Eerie like an old movie scene.
I saw several unfed skinny dogs
Running between huge tombstones.
I meditated on how
I should be as hungry to survive and live
As any other animal on earth.
Gazing at those cemetery dogs
Scavenging for something to eat,
I made a promise to myself:
I will never become a statistic of self-defeat.
A narrative which leads to hope, however grim the starting point.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Very powerful and evocative. May you always keep that promise to yourself. Sincerely, Sandra