can you hear the child…

you were
so
concerned
with dancing
stars
who
will
win
how could they
endure
such a
rigorous schedule
but
while
you
sat there
i sat
here
a child
from darfur
my dried tears
are yesterday’s fears
not today’s
this arid place
holds my forgotten face
as if bound to a cross
my body aches
from the janjaweed’s
penetrations
this was no wedding night
with one
lover
it was satan’s army
i was
the victor’s prize
and so my tears
went unheard
your
god
my
god
did not intervene
nor did any
one
change
the channel
for fear
of missing
who
the
winner was
it
was
not
me

congratulations….

transparency international
would like to
congratulate
you
you
have been selected
at random
from thousands
to receive
an all expense paid vacation
to one of their
top ten countries
this trip will afford
you an opportunity
to live life as a local
experience the reasons
for all those heart warming stories
that you have only heard about
on the evening news
for example
watch a new-born infant
vainly fight for survival
then
wade through governmental muck
attempting to bribe a government official
to regain your passport
experience the thrill of the hunt
by being the hunted
run wild to foreign borders
be rejected
or
imprisoned in tent camps
this is just a sample of what awaits you
and although previous winners
have requested a travel brochure
i must sadly admit we have none
however
i have enclosed
several photographs
with comments on each
photo number one
a lovely camp in sudan
where you’ll  while away the hours
talking to natives from darfur
please ignore the small fire being set
in the foreground
photo number two
transportation system is displayed
these are somalian toll boats
please bring the correct change
since the captain only carries large bills
this is not some one time offer
like those silly tv commercials
this a stable world condition
so you need not rush to your phone
to respond
take your time
most people
have