The Right To Play

Lonely I reside inside a metropolis of tents, not too far from an anthill of insignificance, It’s little occupants take no notice of me and why should they, for I’m insipid waste, Growing weary and paranoid I prod the anthill with a stick, seeking some attention, A few ants come out to check, turn around and go back in, it’s just that scruffy dumb kid again, ignore him I walk away deflated and depressed at my inability to interact, and rouse them into action, Fruitlessly probing at inanimate outcrops, just fills me with more inadequacy, Killing time killing the day nowhere to go nowhere to play, But wait hold on! things are looking up, I’ve been given a mask, now the ants won’t recognize me, I can’t wait to play with them tomorrow A child in UNHCR camp, somewhere in the middle of anywhere, that’ll take him Human Rights Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Robert James Liguori 01/12/21