dispossession 2
powerless
today a dusty sun slants sepia light
an eerie still scene of a shanty town
on the outskirts of Lima in Peru
monotone brown
ruins rubble rubbish scant vegetation
brown dusty brown
the dispossessed
in makeshift shelters
never ending palette of desolation
here on the outskirts of Lima
like a barnacled mass they cling
one night ten years ago
in india
i lay in your arms weeping for the poor
having seen the sorrow in a mother’s eyes
felt the touch of a begging hand
and i asked why
here they do not look
they turn away
a water truck comes
to refill drums
for those who can afford water
earlier it had freely watered green grass
of our resort with its luxury pool
when i walk away
i do not weep
answers would choke with dust
i don’t even know the questions
just crave your arms around me
against this inequality