Of Needle and Red

218 million child labourers in the world

1 in 7 children around the world are child labourers

Families in poverty cannot afford to send their children to school

children grow up without basic skills and education

Every year 22,000 children die in work related accidents

Children trafficked into one form of labour may be later sold into another, as with girls from rural Nepal, who are recruited to work in carpet factories but are then trafficked into the sex industry over the border in India.

Where are you buying your Christmas presents this year?

Of Needle and Red

Father Christmas screamed

“What the f*****g hell do you think you're doing?”

elves gawped up in fright

bones shivering muscles tight

knuckles ground into white

concentrate

create,create,create

in, out, in, out, in, out........

years of hundred weight betrayal

Eyes trapped in sorrow

slaughtered fingertips blossom

while delicate minds

weave weave weave

collapsing dreams leave

pressed into unyielding cloth

sewing steadily as sun dies

cold moon brays indignation

suffering of a mighty nation

in this no win situation

Father Christmas stomps

his jowl swinging in pomp

grunting woeful utterings

as little hearts plummet

shadows cling to walls

stomach rumbles, nature calls

never dare raise a voice

or have a tiny thought

as bitter looms stress

nimble fingers with needles bleed

for greed

work was work was work

many hungry mouths to feed

a family, but no flowering seeds

older elves dispersed, some time ago

sold they heard, a virgin worth her salt

moved on, all used up

what a way to go

Unable to greet words

what is their worth

in this unforgiving, forgotten world

Push the needle in, out, in, out

shed not a tear, utter not a sound,

in, out, in, out, in,,out

not a frown as faces remain blank

mummy had no wedding dress

forget the Sunday bloody best

clumsiness, drowsiness, idleness,

were options repressed

                                valueless

aching for a moment of tenderness

from life of permanent dread

tired loom folds

while he scolds

and elves souless

journey to the inevitable end.

Breath of his exasperation

sweat of his aggravation

It had to be ready

had to be streets ahead

word to the wise

time to capitalize

on his appetising carpet

of needle and red

stock stock stock

ticking of the clock

at this rate he'd never get to bed.

He raised his fist in rage and screamed...............

“What the f*****g hell do you think you're doing?”

Reviews

[Nobody.]

it's ugly....your shoes, shirts, beads, FLAGS are being made by little children in unsafe places, in filthy living conditions and under severe mental and physical duress. I was almost arrested in China when I happened on one of these places on vacation. I began shouting and became so....outraged that I had no control over myself. If not for a friend dragging me back to our hotel kicking and screaming....I'd probably be sitting in a cell right now. I've also seen some of those young kids being 'recruited' in Africa for 'sensual arts' jobs. It's disgusting. Damn those in this world who believe it is okay! Damn them!

Great write. Reality bites hard!

[Dream Weaver]

I've known this for many years and it still amazes me how we call ourselves civilized and human beings? Your write is brilliant and just scrapes the surface of these tragadies....Well done to bring even more awareness to this world wide problem.........

[Robin]

and dont let anyone think this is not happening the "civilized" countries either ..

[the_stoic]

even though i couldn't understand some words related to Christianity here yet the entire theme really moved me .. i completely agree with 'wondering mind' that as long as people like you are there , there is hope dear aunt ! everyone amongst us can do our little like say help the needy monetarily instead of buying expensive gifts .. touching write

[J.M]

It's true we're not a humane society - far from it. And as usual your amazing poem has expressed this incredibly well. The format was also very clever, with the great idea of mixing traditional symbols of giving and happiness with cruelty and abuse. A fantastic write - good job.

[Brad]

damn, you always bring to light something that's been hidden in the shadows

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

first~ your poem . . . . rips itself off the page in tatters like eucharist for conscience~ prying open the lids over the eyes that ache to lock out the vivid ghastliness of the EVERYDAY reality these little ones are forced to endure~

we are so far from HUMANE my dear friend that it is breaking us to pieces as a species one bone crushing fragment at a time~ we see~we hear~ we ingest the spectacle of the f*****g callous fist of the human animal killing and destroying everything and we feel helpless and internalize all that horror which manifests itself in deprerssion~suciciadal tendencies~ behavioural disorders~ we are so oversaturated with the idiotic and distracted from the hearts that need healing that we are dying to our own f*****g applause~ and no one thinks or believes in the power of one anymore~ how sometimes all it takes is one sound to start recreating the music of the world~

the best way to gauge the compassion of a species is to observe how it treats its young~and its environment~ HUMANS: EPIC FAIL

[Perception Shapes Poetr..]

it is sad how the value of a child is dictated by the environment they are innocently born into...
this was very moving and i can only imagine how emotional it was to write

[Aven]

another amazing write, highlighting a very important issue... I love how you can parody this problem without losing the seriousness... great write!

[Wondering Mind]

As long as there are people who feel the pain and sufferings of others, who act on it, write, cry out about it, then there is still hope. You are part of that hope, my friend.