My Hungry Belly Poem by MELVIN BANGGOLLAY

MY HUNGRY BELLY
Melvin Banggollay

I write this to once more in memory
refresh my mind of my past history
To inspire those now living in poverty
to have hope to be out of such malady.

When I was a kid I always have a belly
Hungry for food for my father's salary
Was not really enough to feed our family
Though he worked so hard everyday.

He always told me, be patient buddy
God is not sleeping to show us the way
To feed you well to have no hungry belly
if we work and trust in Him faithfully.

When I was in the college, I often envy
My board mate to have eaten well daily
While I lament for I felt that my dear belly
was pulling my intestine without mercy.

As I felt dizzy for I have not eaten a day
I laid in my bed and tearfully asked mercy
For God to touch my aching hungry belly
and fill it with food to keep me alive today.

Then I felt aslept and dreamt of my daddy
Working so hard to support my study
Saying to me, 'son, just be patient today
but do your best, you'll eat all someday'.

I woke up and drunk water for I was thirsty
As if I traveled far to reach my destiny
but deep in my heart, I thank my daddy
for inspiring me sail even in my fantasy.

Then a friend who encouraged me
to join in their evangelical ministry
Sharing God's wisdom to the needy
Gave me a gift, a penny for my belly
That until today I have not repay.

But I vow to share that gift to anybody
to the forgotten, the poor and the needy
For what profit a man If he has so many
But can't have the light of eternally glory.

Poverty inspired me to excel in my study
As my father always told to me repeatedly
'Only your education be my only legacy
I can ever give to arm you to fight poverty'.

With God''s grace, I finished my degree
In spite having sailed with hungry belly
And when my parents saw me on the day
I took my diploma, tears of their joy I see.

Now that I could earned much for my family
I promised not to let any of my children envy
their board mate who can eat well everyday
but them to be sharing food for the needy.