DEMISE

the starving

Rolling hills of sand endless to the horizon

when the sun is sleepy, sky reveals hues of purple, orange and blue

nights are black, lit only by shimmering stars

the desert is lonesome, devoid, destitute

yet it is also magical, hushed and calm

until a storm, winds whip through, churning sand in funnels

then composes until the sun’s fiery heat breathes down upon the earth

people dwell here under a harsh environment

 

Bloated bellies hollow with hunger, shrouded with pain

weeks without nourishment, a forlorn face with sunken eyes

clutches to his mother’s breast whose milk has dried up

 

An arid landscape, cracked earth begs for rain

to sanction growth to feed its starving people

stench of death in the young and old who plead to survive

too weak to move on

prayers for rain sustenance deteriorates

just like the poor humans whose lives are short

famine is a cycle of a tortuous life and an early death

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[.]

This poem made me hold my breath, it's so powerful. I actually felt like my heart was being squeezed. Because your imagery is so powerful and vivid as always, I can't help but picture the scene as I read your words, and there were times when I closed my eyes while reading the poem, but the image didn't go away. It's so powerful. I need to breathe.

[Betty Hermelee]

thank you so much Beren; In Sudan, Africa, this all true unfortunately…. i appreciate your review
Warmly, B🌷🌷🌷🌷

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Love it when something lonesome, devoid and destitute can still be magical and beautiful.
Ugly is definitely an artform in some ways.
As you usual, you paint scenes with your words like no other.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

An amazing review J, thank you for that
Warmly
B🌷🌷🌷

[Michael Sun Bear]

Betty, you tricked me. I have for a very long time wished to take a specific guided tour of Morocco that includes crossing over the Atlas mountains and camping in the Sahara. I love our U.S. deserts, but that would be extra special. The clear starry night skies, awakening at dawn to the sound of prayer. But you went from a love of desert to some of the worst horrors of life on Earth. As a student of Sufism, I don’t believe in just Earth, heaven and hell. I have been taught we are on a long journey we chose to make, a journey away from the Creator and back to the Creator, a journey that involves living in many realms, many worlds. This is said to be a dark dark world, yet we chose to be here for a time, and it is a turn around point. There is so much suffering here, as you document in your poem. Your poem is hard to read and hard to review. Since it is painful to read, I think you accomplished what I am guessing you intended.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Michael, yes this is all true, the majesty of the desert and suffering of some people who dwell there…
A thoughtful review
Warmly
B🌷