(The Original) Young Child's Cry

My Ballad for English Class

Ten miles down, ten to go.

Not near our destination, we've strayed far from home.

The banks of the river are nowhere in sight,

the darkness overcomes us, we're left in misery; fright.

 

 

 

I'm soaked to the bone,

Walking out here alone.

No water for me,

No life to be lived.

 

 

 

Somewhere far out there,

children sit, and eat.

Happy they stare,

at the exciting TV.

 

 

So, I wait for someone to save me,

for I'm stranded alone.

No one knows, nor cares.

But I'm dying.

 

 

Tears of sorrow tumble down my cheeks,

"help me!", I cry to the skies.

God's plan for me isn't what I wanted,

for I simply cannot go on.

 

 

Worn down, torn down.

Life goes on, I lose a million pounds a minute.

My brothers and sisters need me, I carry on.

Food is scarce, as is joy.

 

 

The water source is near,

the dirt colors it a murky brown.

I sob, for I am not safe.

Fresh, clean, other things I do not have haunt me.

 

 

The dawn is fire-bright as I return home.

The sun peeks above the thin trees,

giving me warmth.

Still, I am weak.

 

 

Home calls out for me, I reach it soon,

Mother embraces me that afternoon.

I cannot go on any longer, I must lie down.

We eat three grains of rice, our day's worth.

A symphony of emptiness plays through me,

I am nearly through.

Why, why can't I live on in peace?

War. Hunger. Thirst...

 

 

No love, just loss.

One of us passes each day.

In the distance, a young child's cry charges through me.

It sounds very much like me.

 

 

As the next day approaches,

our food has long been gone.

Once again, I head out,

repeating the cycle of existence,

for life does not exist for a child like me.

Author's Note

So, for those of you that have read my poem "Young Child's Cry", this is the original one. It's very similar, I know. Enjoy. :)