Follow the Lead of the Prince George's County (Maryland) Poet Laureate

Sistah Joy Alford, the County's Poet Laureate was moved to write the following poem affter she visited this website.  Thanks to her for sharing her poem.

Please feel free to follow her lead!  Send your hunger-focused poems to [email protected].  ​

​The Visitor
          - by J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford
 
Hungry paid me a visit today
Knocked on my front door
Then came right in
Didn’t ask for permission
Made himself right at home
I tried to extend the courtesy of politeness
Despite the rude rumblin' sounds from inside me
Asked if he had someplace else he needed to be
Surely he could see my fine table setting
But hungry had no use for niceties
Threw my delicate doilies and 
Linen napkins to the floor
Then reached right inside me 
Twisted my gut
Fillin' me with such anguish and pain
I never thought would come my way
But here I sit in my kitchen
Between cabinet and refrigerator
Both as empty as my wallet
Echoes bouncin’ between each
As I wait 'n wonder when and where
I will next get somethin’ to eat. 

J. Joy Matthews Alford, a.k.a. “Sistah Joy” was recently named the first Poet Laureate of Prince George’s County.  Known for messages of social consciousness, inspiration and empowerment, she received the 2002 Poet Laureate Special Award from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities “for her outstanding contributions to the art of poetry in Washington, DC.”  Sistah Joy produces and hosts the award-winning cable television program, Sojourn with Words, which has aired on CTV (Comcast Ch. 76, Verizon Ch. 42), the Prince George’s County local access station, since 2005.
​  

---