Poem by Joyce Williams Graves

MOM, NO MORE

Mom, please…
I know it’s not right to say,
But, Mom, there’s not enough food for
My six siblings and me to eat.
You see, I wanted another peanut butter
and jam sandwich last night.
But, you said, “Only one sandwich per child.”
It’s just too many of us to feed, Mom.
We are always hungry and sad.
Mom, I know you are doing your best,
But my stomach tells me it needs more food.
Maybe if you pray another hour,
God will hear your cry—and the growls of my stomach!
Hunger is not the best feeling for a child.
It’s not good for a growing child, you know.
All I think about is eating a good, hot meal.
I do believe it will get better one day.
But until it does,
Mom, please…
No more babies.

The cry of a seven-year-old boy--

Joyce Williams Graves is a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia.  She lives in Fort Washington, MD (over 20 years) with her husband Glen Graves. She is a woman of faith. She has been retired for 7 years. Ms. Graves worked at the Environmental Protection Agency for 22 years for the Office of Inspector General as an Information Technology (IT) manager. She is an Entrepreneur and works as an independent skincare consultant (Jafra International) for 8 years. She has been a US Notary Public for over 30 years. Ms. Graves is a playwright. Her play is called, “Cotton Field to Concert Hall.” It was performed at the Public Playhouse (2017) and the Kennedy Center (2018). Her hobbies are painting, writing poems, swimming, walking, playing chess. Ms. Graves is a Numismatist (Coins Collector).

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