A Taste of Hunger

It narks me no end when folk say I'm starving... I saw hunger for real in Africa while working as a volunteer at the Tanka Tanka psychiatric hospital.....

A Taste of Hunger

 

None of my walls are straight

So why on earth should I be straight

With you

Go on tell me tell me do

I live in a crooked world of offset lines

And flawed masonry

So why should I pretend to subscribe

To such technical lineograpy

And by the way

Have you ever been hungry my friend

I once skipped lunch

Why

For charity

No I mean really really hungry

I missed supper the same day too

So yes I was starving and even before

Room service kicked in

I began gnawing at my boots

Strange because I wasn’t even

The slightest bit hungry

When they served that

Five course tasting menu

Only minutes after my

First full English Breakfast

And mid morning croissant

Does it really matter

No of course not

I just wondered that is all

Well for what its worth

I do admire your honesty

I think maybe you are right

A palm full of rice might not go

A long way between friends

But further than between foes

Honesty and hunger go hand in hand

And tip to toe…….

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

anyone want to donate to 'Tanka Tanka' please feel free to message me and I will send you a few details....... ta.. Neville

Reviews

[sette]

this is one informative poem

[Neville]

thank you sette, I guess it is.... N

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Great powerful thought provoking work message came across very well

[Neville]

thank you my friend tis appreciated.... N

[Mrudula Rani]

If one takes a look at the pictures of refugees camps and the working conditions of Doctors Without Borders ( Medicos sem fronteiras ) Will stop any one from complaining about trivial problems of comfortable life. Excellent, thought provoking writing.

[Neville]

Thanks M.. what would we do without ya..... All Good Things, Neville

[Mrudula Rani]

Tudo de bom para você sempre ( all the best always)

[barleygirl]

Your poem is well crafted, well stated, & well taken. I’ve always had a beef with Americans for the way many whine about how bad things are in this country. Yes, lately things are worse than they were before, but our worst day would be like heaven to many other countries. Our poorest people live so much better than middle class people in many countries. Here we are bombarded with a constant refrain of consumerism, so we think we are hurting if we can’t afford to buy the next “whatever” . . . and as for food . . . nobody needs to point out that American portion sizes are a delusion of the cruelest kind (both for those lacking food & for those killing themselves with too much food!) You are getting me riled up so I will shut myself up for now (((NUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Neville]

I am always truly grateful for your consideration of my words and look forward to your ever astute, insightful, open, and objective take on them.... yes we seem to share more than just a love of words my friend..... N x

[alanwgraham]

Yes Neville, you have made a profound statement on our human condition. Those with plenty tend not to know, or want to know how, how those in want may be hungry or thirsty. It is too easy to keep these difficult issues at arms length and perhaps even feel that we somehow deserve out place at the top of the heap. Excuses are easy to find! Have you written about the Tanka Tanka? My daughter volunteers every year at an orphanage in Sri Lanka where many of the kids have physical and mental difficulties and it has had a great influence on her outlook on life. We have been able to visit (and my wife volunteer) to to get some idea of the problems. it always helps when these statistics become living people like ourselves.
Great writing!
Regards,
Alan

[Neville]

I really cant tell you how much I appreciate this visit alan & the encouraging, insightful and reasoned message you left behind.. am truly grateful to you.. I have been to Sri Lanka around the Bentota area mainly as well as many of the tourist locations but no, I did not know there is a Tanka Tanka there... is it really called that?....anyway, many thank you's again & all good things to you..... Neville

[alanwgraham]

Sorry Neville. It's not Tanka Tanka. The bit I've pasted in below (by my daughter) gives some details, Regards,
Alan

Sukitha Welfare Society run two homes in Sri Lanka for girls of all ages with differing abilities in physical, emotional and learning needs. The girls are from socially deprived backgrounds; some are orphans with no immediate family.

The Sukitha homes are run on a very small budget. They depend on donations from local benefactors and donations from abroad. The government pay a very small grant that is inadequate to pay the salaries and meet all the daily expenses.

One home is in Galpatha which is inland from Kalutara. This home is for girls aged from 6 to 18 years of age and if they are able will then go on to train at the Vocational Training Centre. But very few go on to do this and often their parents can’t afford to take them home so some will stay there till they die. Galpatha home is a very large house which was donated by a local family. It is very old and in much need of modernization and repair.

[Neville]

Blimey we dont know we are born, do we... Many thank you's for the very interesting update my Friend.... Neville