Small Children in Prison

'I only steal from the rich
Not from the poor,
I steal because I am hungry',
said the nine year old boy
as he was interviewed in jail.

Imprisoned for crimes
like stealing food to appease
hunger in the tummy,
Etsoy and others are caged like animals
sharing a pot of rice among
11 or 15 in-mates three times a day.

Mixed with adult criminals
charged with heinous crimes,
here they are in jail without pencil,
books, crayons and oil lamp,
Here they dread going to sleep,
scared of being raped.

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poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
Added by Poetry Lover
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Haiti Survivor

The earth shook
And the buildings collapsed
She and her friends were trapped
Total eclipse.
Light left no trace
In darkness she heard
herself and her friends
crying, sobbing, moaning
in pain so unbearable to bear.

She could not move her legs
Only her hands could touch
a stone, wanting to embrace
her friends but she could not.
Dusts filled her lungs
She coughed, yes, they coughed.
They continued to sob and moan
She screamed calling for help
She yelled in all despair
but nobody heard her.

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poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!