We finally had a meal today, it’s been two days or more, our daddy takes us everywhere, except the grocery store.
"Beer and smokes is all I need," we often hear him say, but a little food occasionally is all I ask and pray.
Little Jim and baby Bob have no milk or bread,
but our cupboard’s full of alcohol for Mom and Uncle Fred.
I ask you Jesus from my heart to send some food and cheer, and not another box of Scotch or stinky smelly beer.
We try and go to school each day, for us it’s quite a deal, because we know that most of all, we’ll have our only meal.
The kids at school are mean to us and call us nasty names, they say we’re trash and other things and ban us from their games.
Sister Sue is very sick, they say that she may die, I hear her stomach growl at night and I really want to cry.
I was bad the other day while walking through the store, I stole a can of pork and beans and ran right through the door.
For sister Sue I told myself, to help and make her heal, to save her life and make her right I must beg or steal.
Christmas is near and all we have is another empty plate, Our parents tell us that’s to bad they call it rotten fate.
In my prayers to God each night, I ask for hope or money, or to take us up to heaven, to the land of milk and honey.

Comments
Prettyrose | December 1, 2010 - 23:50
wow this is really good and so enjoyable to read, even with the sad storyline in parts. I enjoyed it because not only is it well thought of but easy to read which made it even more fun to read!
I really hope you get a cherry for this!
take care
Oldwarrior | December 2, 2010 - 02:32
Thank you Pretty Rose! Your wonderful comment is more than welcomed...!
Bradene | December 2, 2010 - 11:07
Well this resonates with me, my first husband was was fond of his booze and he often would say as long as he had beer and cig's then he was happy. Well I wasn't and I made damn sure my girls wanted for nothing, I was lucky really, there are many children even today in this very situation. This was a vey touching read for me and I feel you wrote from the heart. I hope to see some cherries beside this sub soon. Bless you. Val
celticman | December 2, 2010 - 19:05
nice outback feel to it. Kids get it sometimes when adults don't.
Richard L. Prov... | December 13, 2010 - 02:31
I can relate totally to this poem. My dad was in bad shape after two years in the Battle of Britain and our soon-to-be dysfunctional family paid heavily as did many others after war veterans returned home to no jobs. Your poem evokes the sadness, yet strong desire to overcome limitations. Richard LP