Famine Row

Along a summer road of eternal dust
that flies in the face of poverty and disdain
red and hardened faces with hands
as brown as the shine on shoes that
at one time reflected in their youthful faces
oily overalls now replace the snappy suit
he used to wear and the shiny automobile
that took him to his job in the city
memories well up in tired eyes that
fill with tears as bony shoulders heave
and protrude from a undernourished body
blows his peeling nose on the red handkerchief
stuffed in a torn back pocket
crafty crows swing from last year's harvest
as a dry wind rustles and crackles through
skeleton corn stalks...
he searches in vain for one piece that
the crows have missed as he salivates
thinking of the kernal mash in his dry mouth
crows heckle his futile attempts and take to
wing as back to the road he trudges..
back to that tiresome journey called life..
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009


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Date: 6/1/2009 4:13:00 PM
So sad that in a world of wealth there are still people that struggle for their next meal. After working hard, economic upheaval can make this a problem for some that never dreamed that they would end up like this. Good title. Thank you for sharing this timely poem with us and for your kind words on my haiku. Karen
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Date: 5/18/2009 6:59:00 AM
Can almost hear the sun scorch my back and feel the dust in my eyes, with him as he continues this harsh journey. Well done, Valerie> A sad tale indeed. >>>>>>Carrie
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