Poem by Willeena Booker

longing for more

barebones palette salivating on stale air
inhale aromatic memories before cupboards were left bare

praying for a meal but a morsel is barely there 
silent duel with hunger's boastful stare

one country wallows in gluttony yet another laments in despair
 if all men are created equal why is life so unfair

 incessant gnawing deep in the pit of my pitiful soul
 longing for sustenance to overflow an empty bowl

 mocking me, looming large, whither I go
 trembling hands unmask pain, my desperation grows

 head tucked low veiling the shame
 begging for food, oh God, this is insane!

 the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof
 starvation is a poison, the antidote is love

full bellies pass by in quick paced steps
 failing to see my hour of woe and regret

 God bless the one who grows his own
 tilling the ground with hands of his native home

 villagers pledge to restore the land
 plant more trees united we stand

 hunger, a silent pandemic raging out of control
 millions go hungry, but who keeps tally of the toll

 swaddled skeletons and emaciated remains
 hidden 6 feet deep, the world in motion yet unchanged

 come stand with me, brothers and sisters, let us rise as one
 act to eradicate hunger until global victory is won 

Audio reading --  https://watch.screencastify.com/v/1o1aTqq9nu0XAE6HbD5Q

Willeena Booker is an elementary school teacher and a poet. She enjoys writing poetry that touches the heart and challenges the mind. Her work has recently been published by Moonstone Arts Center's Poetry Ink Anthology 2021, Haiku 2021 Anthology, and NonSense Verse Anthology 2021. Poet Project has featured her poem I Matter on their BIPOC poetry page and she was a finalist for the Rise Up Anthology by Oprell Magazine. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and 3 daughters.

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