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From the Balcony by Forestine Bynum, Laurel Overlooking my balcony, I often saw A gathering of women and children Mothers with babies tucked tightly in their arms They were quiet, rather orderly Not causing a disturbance, walkers passed by politely Busying themselves as not to see, scurry to Catch the bus or get to their cars I saw women taking turns scavenging Through a dumpster nearby I hadn’t notice before, for food The only sound heard was a tiny cry asking Mommy, when will we get food And a voice saying, Feed My People, Feed My People And a mother’s soft voice replying Tomorrow, tomorrow my child, I hope To mor row, to mor row By Forestine C. Bynum Click on the file below to listen to the poem: 
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Remember the story, “Stone Soup”? Neighbors shared food that they had. Carrots, cabbage, beans, peppers, Enough soup for all prepared. Plant thoughts for food abundance. Imagine zero world hunger. Wholesome meals grace all tables One mind, same goal, we’re stronger. Spirit-cousins band as one; Repast so others eat and live. Fruits, veggies cross distant seas. Our grateful hands freely give. Zero world hunger’s possible. We are the “Stone Soup” tale. Bring bread to the world’s table. Global unity never fails. (c) By Aressa Williams  Retired English Professor and teacher consultant, Aressa wrote her first poetry book to earn a Girl Scout Badge for Creative Writing. Aressa, a member of Pen in Hand, believes that writers perform "word magic" because they bring invisible thoughts and feelings to light.
(John 21: 15-17) Peter talking: “Feed my sheep”, was how You put it. “Feed my lambs”, You said to me. But Lord, how CAN I feed Your children amongst such greed and tyranny? Those who have won't share their havings, those who hate won't love like You, though You made them, gave them life, they will not do the things You do; And I should know, Lord, I'm the one who once, our friendship, I denied; I loved You, served You, but when they asked me,“Don't you know Him?” 3 times I lied. But You gave me another chance, Lord, to share You as the Bread of Life; food for body, soul, and spirit, hope for husband, child, and wife. We must realize Your abundance here on earth is for ALL men; shed our lust for things and power, for hoarding is the spawn of sin. Not Enough... is not the culprit; Ignorance...it's not about; Lack is caused by selfish people; with hearts of stone, they've kicked You out! In this world of rich and plenty, Jesus, press us 'til we cry, in our self-examinations, “Lord, please tell me, is it I who've betrayed Your great commission? Have I done enough to feed this world's poor and starving people, overlooked by my own greed? Open, please, our hearts to love them, humble us to make this right; all together we can do this, shed our darkness, share Your light. “Feed my sheep”, is what You told us, “Feed my lambs” speaks to us all. Help us do Your loving, giving, and Thank You for this rake-up-take-up-shake-up-make-up, THANK YOU for this Wake-Up Call! (c) By Mary Steadman Rhodes  Mary Steadman Rhodes is a Christian wife, mother, & grandmother living in Landover, Maryland. She and her husband of 40+ years have been singing, composing, & writing for many years...and STILL have a lot to say!
Mother always said that if she had only a single slice of bread, she would cut it in eight equal pieces. That’s how many children her body nurtured into this world and every day thereafter until her final breath ascended into the ether. Of all the words she whispered, shouted, sang and cried over all the thousands of days of my childhood, those stick most. It dawns on me, now, she didn’t include herself in that equation. For every star in our galaxy, there shines a mother, a father who has gone dreadfully hungry. Many have fallen into the gaping mouth of graves after offering that last bite of bread to their child. Their final act of love. That is sacrifice. We, of full stomachs, we, whose wildest imaginations will never fathom starvation – so little is asked of us: A willingness to strip ourselves of the blinders that protect us from the squirm of discomfort when we see a boy, a girl, a woman, a man clearly in need of basic nourishment. But what can I do? Only one person of limited means? Begin simply. A sack of oranges. A bag of apples. A ham or chicken on special sale days. A pot of soup for a struggling family. This list could wrap itself around our planet. We are not asked to solve the problems of the world, simply to look at the slice of bread we hold each day, break off a piece from whichever corner feels right. Extend that open hand. Open that awakened heart. (c) By Rosemarie Law  Rosemarie Law (MiMi Zannino) is an author and performing artist. She researched and wrote the historical portrayal “Time-Travel with Emily Dickinson” which she has performed over 50 times.
EmilyDickinsonLive.com GardenPartyMusic.com People are hungry, yet people continue to waste food. Her meals were from partially eaten sandwiches thrown in public trash cans. She watched a child throw away a sandwich one bite out of it. Getting sandwich from can immediately would be her evening meal. People are hungry, yet people continue to waste food. An apple, a pear, a peach, some cherries Some grapes to help provide nutrition To help curb appetite Praying to God above, never to give up Ferocious fight. People are hungry, yet people continue to waste food. A project for many years, helping my Mother Make sandwiches in our kitchen with Family and Friends Taking sandwiches to organizations, like S.O.M.E, So Others Might Eat brings on cheers, chants yea food is here. People are hungry, yet people continue to waste food. Standing on Main Avenue in freezing cold And snow, holding sign stating HELP ME FEED MY CHILDREN, IF ONLY FOR ONE NIGHT!!! People are hungry, yet people continue to waste food. All across the world people die from hunger and malnutrition to ignore this plight would be a ridiculous selfish shame. People are hungry, yet people continue to waste food. What can you do, what can I do, what can others do, to end this international plague? The answer is blowing in the wind, doing Something consistent, we can all PITCH IN. People are hungry, yet people continue to waste food. (c) By Sylvia Dianne Beverly (“Ladi Di”)  Sylvia Dianne Beverly (Ladi Di).
A collection of her work is housed at George Washington University's Gelman Library. Ladi Di celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Host Grace Cavalieri, reading on her show "The Poet and the Poem" at the Library of Congress Experience. You can contact Ladi Di here. I dine on matzah brei smothered with strawberry jam or grape jelly in the Spring of each year. Though I attempt to eat slow, too soon it disappears. It takes me back to a younger day. But there is something else that hangs heavy in the air to remind of a time when my ancestors fled their captives with no time for their daily bread to rise. As I eat this as a breakfast treat, I recall a time when my people were not free. I too was a slave. (c) By Richard (Dick) Epstein  Dick Epstein helps guide the Memorial Day Writers Project held at the Vietnam War Memorial each Memorial and Veterans Day holidays in Washington, DC.
The Flyer Grocery giveaway Free food for the elderly Please bring a bag A neighbor handed it to her At the bank It lay on her kitchen table For two weeks Before she taped it Inside her bare kitchen cabinet Closed doors hide more than empty shelves Even more than empty stomachs Today pride took a step To the back burner So potatoes, carrots and onions Simmer on her stove once again Pots boil freely As aromas rise Drying proud hands and tear-filled eyes On an apron accustomed to hosting family dinners for years She wipes away tears, Then picks up the phone Time to place a thank you call To a good neighbor (c) By J. Joy ‘Sistah Joy’ Matthews Alford Here is the video of Sistah Joy reading her poem The Flyer: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NaO8dcbXD8&t=12s The Visitor Hungry paid me a visit today Didn’t knock on the door Or ring the bell Just came right in Made himself right at home I tried to extend the courtesy of politeness Despite his rude rumblin' sounds Asked if he had someplace else he needed to be Surely he could see from my fine table setting I was expecting guests But hungry had no use for niceties Reached up and snatched my delicate doilies And linen napkins right off the table Threw my fine china to the floor Then reached deep inside me Grabbed and twisted my gut Fillin’ me with such searing anguish and pain That no living soul should ever come to know So here I sit on the floor Between empty cabinets and a refrigerator That once overflowed with its bounty. Tears stream down my face As I try to comprehend How this has become my reality Thriving In This Land of Plenty We have more than enough in this land of plenty… Plenty of food desserts Plenty of obese diabetics Plenty of fast-food establishments Plenty of inequality between communities Plenty of lucrative pharmaceutical companies Plenty of greedy local development corporations Plenty of politicians with fattened pockets Plenty of ignorance about malnutrition Plenty of environmental racism Plenty of fresh food insecurity Plenty of sedentary lifestyles Plenty of apathy about water-stressed cities Plenty… plenty… plenty… © 8/8/19, J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford Haiku Trilogy (A Poetry X Hunger Poem) Some doctors convince Seniors that their meds not their Food keeps them healthy Ms. Jacobsen tried Each new pill her doctor sold Trying to get well Her garden-grown fruit Rotted on the vine as she Filed for bankruptcy © 8/10/19, J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford The video is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX6tQiBdnkA "Did They Know" - The video is available here: https://youtu.be/y7bSZ0qo5gQ  J. Joy ‘Sistah Joy’ Matthews Alford was appointed as the inaugural Poet Laureate of Prince George's County, Maryland in 2018. Deeply involved in poetry work since 2003, Sistah Joy is known for messages of social consciousness, inspiration and empowerment. In 2002 she received the Poet Laureate Special Award from the Washington, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities “for her outstanding contributions to the art of poetry".
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Hunger-focused Poems by Maryland PoetsCreation of this section and publishing the works of Maryland poets was supported by the Maryland State Arts Council. Archives
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