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UNHEARD CRIES by Kerry .A. Kennedy

Day36
#365daypoetryforadvocacyandsocialchangechallenge





I think of the moments when
All life would be valued the same,
And every child would have the
Comfort of knowing he/she has food
And shelter...

I think of those days when we will
Finally realize that many of
Our youngsters are in liberated chains,
Shouting and screaming for a
Little bit more liberation...

But this isn't a poem about my thoughts

So, my dear siblings, let me address your concerns and lament the pains you feel
Where are our leaders; the ones who claim they've come to change the irony
Of our lives?
Where have they been all this time,
When these younger ones stay in villages, wasting precious lives
Farming, and picking leftovers from farms?
Where have they been hiding, when all
these young ones do is
Utilize their years felling trees and getting wives and husbands before eighteen?

Where have they been, for there are no roads to lead us to where these kids reside
The 50 years old hut that's been threatening to fall after grandpa patched it up 10 years ago?
Where have they been all this time?

Unheard Cries...
There have been times I heard
Silent screams from the
Land way beyond my own; the land
pleading for development
There have been times that made me
Wonder how we live, knowing they are
Kids who go to bed hungry
So I ask,
What have they been doing ?
Since, they entered that room with
The air-conditioning on 16 degrees Celsius

Unheard Cries?
Let me echo a bit
About the girl who became a mother before fifteen
I mean the girl who had complications because
Her Parents used country herbs
Because they had not the opportunity to better their minds?
What have you done to ensure she stops suffering?
What have you done to ensure this pretty dark Angel doesn't get forced into marriage?
Oh, did you think it'd stop?
Or have you just decided to refrain from helping 'cause you don't see any gain in it for you?

A billion Unheard Cries, now seep to your earlobe
But What would you do?
Do we have to lament for ages
Before you take care of us?
Don't you see how hurt we are?
Have you no idea how bad it is to be deprived of education, and forced into early marriage?
Have you no idea the many times we've pleaded out to you to hear our silent cries?
We need your intervention.
We need your guidance.
Hear our mute sobs!
We're dying!



Kerry A. Kennedy is a young Liberian writer who resides in Liberia. He is a member of the Liberian Poet Society, and a student of Liberia's premier University, Cuttington University.

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