His Hair has Golden Streaks

His hair has golden streaks,
But, has lost its sheen.
His belly protrudes out
over spindly legs.
That apathetic look
belies his tender age:
He is hardly four or five.
Why doesn't he go out
play with children his age?

'Cause, he has no energy-

Tonight,
He will go to bed hungry...


Author: Zoya Zaidi
Aligarh (UP), India
Copyright ©: Zoya Zaidi

Note: On 16th of October, when world will mark World Food Day, 63% of Indian children will go to bed hungry.
India tops the list of Undernourished children: 47% - 57million-of its children, under five years of age, are underweight, according to recently released UNICEF's Progress for Children's Report Card on Nutrition.
Poem describes the symptoms and signs of Kwashiorkor-extreme form of malnutrition in children



Poetry by Zoya Zaidi
Read 1167 times
Written on 2006-09-07 at 12:08

Tags Hunger 

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Kathy Lockhart
Zoya this is so sad. I have only seen pictures of these poor children. My heart breaks for them. I really am at a loss for words. Thank you for reminding us of these suffering babies. kathy
2006-09-09


Emelén The PoetBay support member heart!
Liola said it well. It is a crime .
This write was hard to read . I am myself a mother . I saw this childs eyes , his apathy , his malnutrition discoloration . This is an important write. We live in a world where children are born only to experience pain before they leave life yet again . Thank you for posting this and I hope it is read by everyone here . Everyone .
2006-09-07


wee2souls
a heartwrenching poem here!!
how you show your compassion
within this write,shocking very! to
read of this!!
a very powerful read!!!!!
loves and hugs to you of many:))
cindymac:))
2006-09-07


sania
bravo , encore
another fine work of yours.
the figures are bewildering. its an irony that we, who stuff our stomachs like the romans did, tend to overlook our less fortunate brothers yearning for a loaf.
2006-09-07


keith nunes
terribly sad but well written poem. those statistics are also frightening. good for you for reminding us in the west that things are pretty good
2006-09-07


Indra
It's a though world out there... My dream is that those who have money will spend them on those who don't... But unfortunately they spent their mony on fancy cars and houses...
2006-09-07



Yes, the gap between rich and poor grows wider for each day. And those who pay the highest price are, as always, the innocent ones.
Thank you for this good and empathic poem Zoya!
2006-09-07


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
Hi there Zoya another of your very strong and worldly texts well done for this rgds mike
2006-09-07


Malin Johansson
This poem is so tragical... you describe the misery of children and people who has to go to bed hungry!!! this world can be really horrible... When I read this one I wanted to empty my whole fridge and give it to thoose who need it...
this poem is short and simple but with a big big meaning... I liked this poem Zoya!!
I want to destroy the starvation!!!
~~hugs~~
2006-09-07