Her Name Is Want

Her Name is Want By Elton Camp That “all are equal,” she knows to be untrue No matter how many platitudes people spew “Mother won’t let me play with you anymore” She’s heard such cruel words many times before Her father, Want will never see or come to know He is a good man because her mother told her so “There are many other things you father has to do. If not, he would rush home to help me care for you.” Want’s mother dresses up so fancy most every night And comes home late, looking as if she was in a fight Want stays home and trembles in the dark with fear Covers her ears and hums so scary sounds won’t hear There is nothing that the child can look to with pride Little hope for change for her circumstances provide In school, it is almost certain that she will not succeed She lacks food, clothing, encouragement—every need Want is destined to look old many years before her time Just when a young lady should expect to be in her prime Will she meekly accept her life or will she perhaps rebel Become one of the “always poor” or else a child of hell?