She is laying asleep
on the stone steps of the derelict building.
dust on the streets,
people walking by.
It’s as easy as ABC
if you know
how to say your ABC;
if you are lucky enough
to go to school.
Do you have parents?
She doesn’t.
She is 2, all curled up with a teddy
in her arms,
asleep alongside the footpath.
So I take her in my arms
and give her a place at the orphanage.
We give her a name
and a meal.
She is going to stay here.
Every child here is dependant on funds raised from the general public.
In time, (how old is she really?)
she will go to school.
She has no parents, no relatives, no sisters or brothers,
only her little teddy bear.
Mouna is a victim of
war, famine, disease.
Abandoned by misfortune.
An orphan left on the streets,
Mouna has her teddy bear,
a remnant of more secure times.
She can’t tell you about them-
only show you her teddy bear.
Comments
skinner_jennifer | October 17, 2010 - 14:30
Hi Pia (Little Bird,)
this is such a sad little poem, but a reminder of
the those who are not as lucky as we are.
The problem is, that you read so much about homeless
children that live on the streets in other countries,
I suppose it goes on here aswell, how many of those
children actually survive to become adults? Yes very
sad. But you tell it so well in this poem.
Jenny. (Evening Star.)
Highhat | October 17, 2010 - 15:05
This is situated in a 3 world country, Jenn (Evening Star)- I think it happens in other countries in Europe as well. Ukrainia is a poor country as well where a lot of children are condemned to the streets. It isn't that ordinary in the wealthy, "civilised" countries, but still there are a lot of young people who live on the streets because of neglect and other reasons.
Highhat | October 17, 2010 - 15:06
By the way thanks for reading and commenting
;)Pia (Little Bird)