Big Tent’s prompt this week was a Wordle.
I managed to use all of the words in a poem that discusses a theme I keep coming back to.
A ship’s garbage pile
embellished by a child swarm.
Flies; debris; half-eaten food.
A prize: a mouldy loaf –
a feast for ribs, backbones,
fleshless faces.
Evidence of temporary joy:
laughter, chants, bloated pockets,
engorged bellies.
Tourists recoil,
sweep skirts aside;
fearing hunger’s contaminants.
There is no welfare; no child care.
They ask no questions.
There are no answers.
The Laughing Housewife 
Tilly, this has to be one of your best. It really pulls at the heart strings.
V X
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Thanks Viv.
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Wow, thanks for that picture… 😛
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Still alive, then; my sweet? You don’t call; you don’t write….
When are you coming home?
mxx
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Great use of the words, Linda and a powerful, if all too prevalent, image.
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Sounds like some parts of my own country…
timeless flies search for fries
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Sadly, it could any of a number of countries. I chose Madagascar because it was the country that most affected my husband on his travels; and the photo of the street children was taken there.
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I agree with Viv. This is a good one.That kid with the cross eyes should get a job on the tele:)
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I’ll tell him! He’s busy running the country at the mo’ though. 🙂
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Mind blowing write here… and I don’t say that very often. I’m impressed. Love and Light, Sender
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Thank you. I appreciate your comment.
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This is poignant, a picture in few words.
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elegant,
I am there seeing everything in your words.
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Tillybud, you done better than good on this one. Great use of the words, a strong and necessary statement of too much reality. Potent!
Elizabeth
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Thanks Elizabeth.
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Insightful, yet compassionate….
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Awesome use of the wordle! Great work! =)
-Weasel
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You effectively paint heart wrenching picture. It does not seem appropriate to say it was enjoyable, considering the subject matter, but it is thought-provoking and real and that always makes for good poetry.
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Thank you. I do try to make people think.
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Such sadness in such stories …the life others have to live should shame us all and place into perspective the great gifts we have.
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“fearing hunger’s contaminants”… what a vivid way to describe the way so many people so easily recoil at the plight of those less fortunate. Nicely done.
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I can see why you are feeling good about this Wordle. Very strong poem and very effective use of the prompt. Wow.
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There is not much more for me to add to the comments you have already. I endorse them all. But here’s this
Memory Of Bangladesh
Most of all, mostly
it is the smell that takes me
back to those harsh streets,
to open sewers
beside the ox carts, rickshaws
baby taxis, we called
them that though they had
another name in Bangla,
of that I am sure.
It is the fat smell
and in it right there between
the incense and stink,
right there, that’s the way
you looked at me, and kohl rimmed
your amazing eyes.
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Again, it is rather sad that this poem could be about so many countries.
I could taste the rancid fat.
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Your poem creates such a vivid picture that it transcends words and enters right into the reader’s heart.
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an important topic to write about! i admire people who do!
and i am so thrilled how diverse the poems are this week!
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I think this prompt has delivered the best collection of poems yet. Some incredible stuff – including yours.
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the ending gives one goose bumps…
lovely job!
my entry is here
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…temporary joy… makes the world go round… dorothy calling
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So raw – a fine and powerful poem.
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niceley done using all those words….enjoyed reading this
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Tilly very sad piece!
Pamela
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I enjoyed the condensed brevity of your writing here. It packed a good punch.
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Lovely words..Soulful
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Beautiful description of a terrible reality for too, too, too many, as you (& others) have said.
The “child swarm” was incredible — what a wonder these Wordles are. So much diversity, so much heart.
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Concisely honest description of child poverty/hunger, especially the classism where one hopes not to be contaminated by such want. Thank-you.
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