Africa's Haunting Groan
In the beaten down hut,
a groan;
a voice calling out for help,
a wordless whisper to the rich,
of Hunger and of Thirst.
A breaking moment for the poor.

Greed thats merciless,
leaders pocket donations;
another groan;
a voice rasied in disgust.
Robbing the less priviledged,
stealing a right for life.

Ribs seen through tattered shirts,
dry skin, ashen
for lack of norishment
lack of health.
stolen rights.
''Happiness'' a strange word?
No way! I have heard of it.
But it slowly diminishes,
lost in vocabulary.

There it goes again,
The groan.
More persistent,
calling to you for help.
Help to the hungry,
a call for equality,
From that haunting groan.
Pamela Mukiri Kaibung'a
Materi Girls Center
Meru, Kenya.