In Our Own Words

There was a baby boy who cried out in hunger

And there was a tired old man, who suffered all along.

There was a young woman, who grew up without a home.

And there was a faceless man, fighting endless battles.

And then there was me.

A young girl who never really suffered.

I complained of begin too full.

I got sick of being surrounded by people.

I relaxed in my large suburban home.

I never had to fight for anything.

Time has passed.

Nothing seems to have changed.

The boy is still hungry.

The old man is still alone.

The woman is still freezing on the street.

The man still hasn’t won.

And there still is me.

I still haven’t suffered anything compared to them.

But when I eat too much, I see that boy’s face

And when I’m surrounded by my friends, I think of the lonely, old man.

When I sit on my couch, images of that woman cloud my vision.

And when I watch shows about pain and agony, I cannot forget that man who still hasn’t won.

But you see,

I have learned.

My narrow view of the world has been expanded.

I see the problem and I know the answer now.

That is not all I know

I know that one day that boy will be bigger but he will not be hungry anymore

One day, that old man will die, but he won’t die alone.

I know that one day, the woman will smile, because she will have a home.

And I know that one day, that man will win.

He will have a face, at least to me.

And I,

I will make a difference.

I can feed 400.

I can carry on a conversation.

I can build a home.

I can fight with someone, and for someone, not against them.