Written in Wasted Pity

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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


*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.

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Duke Beaufort

Date: 10/9/2024 4:32:00 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!

Keith D Trestrail
Date: 10/10/2024 5:23:00 AM

Cheers Duke.

Crystol Woods

Date: 8/3/2024 3:57:00 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

Keith D Trestrail
Date: 8/3/2024 8:33:00 PM

All some people ever know is war, famine, persecution, and displacement. It’s so sad. Thanks Crystol.