a friend posed the question
there is a first world
and there is a second world,
but where do you find the
second world?
and sadly i think i know the answer.
the second world lives is
the hidden shadows of the
first.
and is populated by....
.....those who live in the shells
of architect designed houses, with no power running
water,
..or worse live in cars or
couchsurf.
....it is those pensioners who
exsist on tinned cat food
and teabags re-used
seven times.
....old people who wear their entire wardrobe in the winter
cold.
....children with bad teeth and chronic health issues
un-attended because they
can't afford a doctor
...it is the man,
who died the other day.
hit by a train,
while his children watched,
retrieving some dropped groceries,
he got from,
a food drive van.
...it was the first food
they would have had in 48hrs,
the child stated for reporters.
this .....
is the second world!!!
right here ....
mostly hidden from sight
not even reminded by sad
tv ads
only when abject utter tragedy
happens
do we see a glimpse
of the second worlder's
desperate plight.
written in response to a poem by ernesto l gonzales
the story of the man in the poem happened in the last few days in a major Australian City.
facts; 1 in eight people in Australia live below the poverty line.
one fifth of the nation's children are affected by poverty
poverty is growing at a rapid
rate in this country but is hidden because of a reletively robust welfare system.
if this is australia what of the larger countries more affected by the g.f.c.???