Notes About The Poem

I wrote this many years ago about a little girl in Sierra Leone named 
Marie (pictured above) during the civil war who I used to sponsor. She 
and her family had to flee their village and I never heard from her again.
That was in 1997. Seems the one constant in this world is conflict. 

Dedicated to all the Maries out there.

Written in Wasted Pity

I pity the refugee’s road of flight,
  the children of the shanty and the gun
who on all humanity are a blight -
  who die or live unto be an orphan.
I pity the meagre, the forgotten 
  who a crisis of ravages endure,
whose fate is that of the misbegotten
  and whose need is now, real, grave, just, and raw!
I pity the terrorised, the wartorn,
  the sacked and conquered that bury their dead -
the child bride, the child slave still to be born
  and alas the lost soul already bred.
I pity the brave girl I used to know
and wonder dreadfully where did she go?


             Written: August 2006
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Beaufort Avatar
October 9, 2024 at 4:32 PM
Keith, this reveals the breadth and quality of your heart and your concern for those in jeopardy. Those are all impressive qualities, and for that I salute you. Smiles!
Trestrail Avatar
October 10, 2024 at 5:23 AM
Cheers Duke.
Woods Avatar
August 3, 2024 at 3:57 PM
A weighty write. It's difficult to imagine living in a country so entrenched in violence and pain. We are so sheltered in the USA, the majority anyway. How can we truly understand what they go through everyday when most of us live in safety... the stress alone would be deadly. A powerful poem. I'll continue to pray...especially for children. That's about all I know to do but" the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much". Just need to work on the righteous part. Xo
Trestrail Avatar
August 3, 2024 at 8:33 PM
All some people ever know is war, famine, persecution, and displacement. It’s so sad. Thanks Crystol.
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