Third World Debt Poem by Isam Hussain

Banks, awash with money,
offered loans to poor nations willy-nilly,
to governments corrupt and sleazy.

The loans were frittered away
on projects useless and fancy,
without a care as how to repay
debts that would be due one day.

Poor nations were soon in default,
Banks rushed to reschedule the debt,
pretending to ease the nations’ plight,
while adding interest to more interest.

The banks know and understand
the huge loans will never be paid,
but continue to demand
rescheduling debts already rescheduled.

The lot of the poor has worsened,
their hopes dashed,
their dreams abandoned.

The poor are harshly judged,
the helpless are severely scourged,
the innocents are unjustly condemned,
nailed to the cross of corruption and greed.

The debt is a painful crown of thorns
pressed upon the brow of poor nations.
Interest rates are sharp iron nails
cruelly driven into their feet and hands.

The crucified in agony bleeds,
entreats the passing world to help;
but the world has no intention to stop
and bring down the crucified from the cross.