Monday, February 23, 2009

Meriting Empathy

She throws pennies
To watch the children fight for them
He throws nothing
Earn it, he says
Sing for me, dance for me
Dirty, starving, and tired
Bleeding from the scrap over tiny copper coins
They sing and dance for the privileged
Filthy, brown skin to remind them they're disgusting
Being judged by the white righteousness of those across the river
Trying to swim across to cleanse themselves in the water
They exit the river, still brown and are sent back to the other side

2 comments:

  1. Love the last line. It definitely resonates.

    It's "they're disgusting" in the ninth line, by the way. Sorry, I'm a grammar Nazi. It's my vocation. >:)

    Go see Slumdog Millionaire.

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  2. No, don't apologize. Thank you!

    I definitely will go see the movie. Soon!

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