Relief … ?

The ongoing crisis in Yemen, caused by prolonged conflict, has led to staggering impacts on human life, basic public services, and the economy.

Relief … ?

In the bombed battered desolation

of an ancient long lost metropolis

A traumatised damaged lonely child

trudges aimless with a cindered cane

And detritus arenaceous edifice whispers

this was once a devoted family home

Relief appears a long distant aspiration

As opposing factions refuse an armistice

Hiding behind innocence fragile human shields

of herded refugees littering like crimson paper-chains

Trapped inside macabre dust choked grounds

these soundless souls live shattered arid dreams

Atop them weighs unjust execrable brokenness

patterned pending deprivation and ominous disease

Rhetoric alone does not feed hungry spirits

with superfluous intergovernmental injected promises

Nor the hypocritically supplying both offenders

with copious expensive technology for combat

Peaceful concordance would end the nightmare

But alas no gestural of abatement has arose

As onlookers we can give only voluntary our aid

through prayers and much needed monetary support

(Let us hope our effects are not in vane!)

Phillozofee @ 2017

Author's Note

Up to 3.15 million people have been displaced and more than 40,000 people have been killed or injured, including more than 4,000 civilians. Families are struggling to survive, and now the risk of famine and cholera loom.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

The saddest part about your poem is that I did not know WHICH disaster you were describing, until I got to your author's note. I hate that this applies to a large number of sad situations around the globe. Your words are intense & equal to the devastation you describe. I like your use of a lonely child as the vehicle for taking us along this shattered boulevard. Your writing here is clearly heartfelt & graphic. In one or two places, you piled on the complex words to the point where it impeded the flow of reading this . . . "detritus arenaceous edifice whispers" -- it's very hard to do when you obviously love vocabulary & I love that you use many unique words, but you do need to learn to edit yourself & stop being too in love with your long lovely words, to sacrifice a few. I know this battle well, as I have written many complex things that needed to be simplified a bit. Fondly, Margie

[MichelleSun]

Yes. It is a very bad situation.

[J. Hampton]

Verbal activism....yes...and yes!
PS: Phil you have the adverb/adjective game on lock!

[Priyanshi]

You caught a great topic to write over.All these are destroying us day by day.People are killed , suffering and it's so devastating.
Very well written.

[zaisham9393]

War, poverty and hunger terrorizing innocent and it's endless string of consequences !
I hope and pray this cycle stops!
Thank you for writing this and sharing !

[Coyote Poetry]

Hard days for many people in many places. You are right. Need more than prayers. Powerful words made the reader understand. Many are in bad places and war is alive. Thank you my friend for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Patrick Ramsey]

It's part essay, part refugee advocacy, part criticism of the structures that have borne this collateral damage. I got lost a little bit in the words, but perhaps that's part of your intent...to convey the same lostness to your readers that these children must feel in the wake of things beyond their control.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Your poem needed to be said. Beginning with the situation, and then the cause, and finally all what all us onlookers can do. What a terrible state of affairs this is, and on an individual human level, well, heart-breaking and unforgivable, really. But, retribution breeds retribution, so lets hope a way is found. Well done for writing this poem, and, in my opinion, very well written too.

[Faith Knoll]

Very good! What inspired you to write on this topic?

[EcstaticEuphoria]

Heart wrenching and sad beyond belief! Knowing too that even well meant relief may never come because of the curupt. Thank you for sharing your heart to the world in such poetic relief!