Poems by Rana Musleh

The following poem was inspired by Diane Wilbon Parks' artwork, Poetry X Hunger Logo, which appears on the Poetry X Hunger website--ART - Poetry X Hunger.

Belly of Silence
Theme: Child hunger and quiet suffering.

In the morning light, a bowl stays bare,
Crumbs of hope drift through the air.
Tiny hands fold in quiet grace,
A hollow ache behind her face.

The fridge hums low, a ghostly song,
Of nights and days that stretch too long.
She counts the tiles upon the floor,
To distract from hunger she can't ignore.

The school bell rings — she drifts inside,
Where empty lunch bags do not hide.
A growl, not loud, but deep and grim,
Becomes her lullaby, soft and dim.

She does not cry, she does not plead,
She's learned to swallow every need.
While others feast on bread and meat,
She dines on dreams and skipped heartbeats.

At recess, she will turn away,
From trading snacks or games of play.
She traces stars upon the ground,
Where silent hunger makes no sound.

A teacher glances, eyes too kind,
But dares not ask what she might find.
Pride is stitched into her sleeves,
Worn like armor that never leaves.

​She folds her pain in paper tight,
Draws a sun with colors bright.
Because in art, she still can choose,
A world where no child ever chews
On air for lunch, or fights to grow,
In homes where love can’t feed the soul.

---

The following poem was inspired by Dr. Jayne Shatz artwork, The Empty Bowl, 2023, which appears on the Poetry X Hunger website--ART - Poetry X Hunger.

The Line
Theme: Hunger and dignity in poverty.

Wrapped in coats too thin for the cold,
They stand in line, the young and old.
Ticket numbers, silent prayers,
Shuffle feet and downcast stares.

The wind cuts sharp, but no one speaks,
Their stories hidden in tired cheeks.
A mother clutches a child near,
Whispering hope no one can hear.

It's not just food their bodies lack,
But weightless worth upon their backs.
The ache goes deeper than the bone --
It’s in the sense of standing alone.

Soup and rice, a meager fill,
Can't touch the shame that lingers still.
The ladle dips in steady grace,
But none dare lift their masked-up face.

They trade their names for numbered slips,
Their hunger tucked behind closed lips.
Dignity frays with every step,
Though pride is something they still’ve kept.

But food is only half the hunger.
The rest is harder to name:
The hunger for warmth,
for a job that pays,
for a home that’s not just a roof
but a place where dignity lies.

But when the spoon meets a trembling hand,
A kind of peace might try to stand.
For even one warm, quiet bite
Can hold a flicker of fading light.

​A glance, a nod, a softened sigh --
Small things that let a soul get by.
And in that room where hope feels thin,
They find the strength to stand again.

---

The following poem was inspired by Dr. Jayne Shatz artwork, The Hunger Trilogy, 2023, which appears on the Poetry X Hunger website--ART - Poetry X Hunger.

Gnaw
Theme: Hunger as a physical and emotional concern.

There is a gnaw that doesn't sleep,
A restless claw that digs too deep.
It creeps through ribs like whispered lies,
A hunger no one justifies.

No kitchen hum, no buttered toast,
No sizzle-song from Sunday roast.
Just tap-water dreams in chipped-glass cups,
And stomachs that won’t shut up.

The fridge is mute, the cabinets bare,
A silence thick like heavy air.
No scent of stew, no crusty bread--
Just echoes of what once was fed.

It’s not just food the body seeks--
It’s dignity and voice that speak.
To say: I am, I breathe, I feel,
I need more than a silent meal.

There’s a gnawing in the soul as well,
A hollow place no one can tell.
It aches for worth, for being seen,
For more than what has never been.

​The world walks by with hurried eyes,
While hunger dresses in disguise.
A smile, a nod, a laugh too loud--
All trying to silence what’s not allowed.

And still the gnaw remains, it grows,
Through sleepless nights and threadbare clothes.
Yet deep inside, a voice holds fast--
I matter still. I will outlast.

---

BIO: Rana Musleh is a student at Baruch College majoring in English, a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and an aspiring lawyer. Through poetry, she explores themes of social justice, resilience, and the quiet strength of marginalized voices. Her writing blends creative expression with a passion for advocacy and systemic change. She is also a 2025 (Re)Generation contest participant, using art to promote environmental and social responsibility.