With all of our technology,
And experts in biology,
There’s one thing that still puzzles me.
Why children still go hungry,
While some, in our economy,
Are dying of obesity.
I question the philosophy,
Or economic policy,
That makes our life expectancy,
A matter of geography.
© Graeme Williams 2012
Photograph taken from the Feed My Starving Children photostream on flickr and used under the creative commons licence. I wrote the poem first then came across what seemed to be the perfect picture to illustrate it.
It's time for kids to go to bed,
On weary feet upstairs they tread,
Once teeth are brushed and stories read,
They snuggle down,
Beneath their duvet covers spread,
They start to yawn.
And now there’s one last hug goodnight,
To finish off the bedtime rite,
A favourite toy is cuddled tight,
And soon they’re drifting,
As we turn off the bedroom lights,
They’re gently breathing.
But then one child downstairs will creep,
Complaining that they cannot sleep,
With bedclothes snarled up in a heap.
A tale of woe,
Untangled with a single sweep,
Then back they go.
And later on upstairs we’ll sneak,
Into their rooms to take a peek,
To see them lying there, so sweet.
There’s not a peep,
One final kiss upon the cheek,
They’re fast asleep.
© Graeme Williams 2012 & 2022
This was one of the first poems I ever wrote as an adult. However, when I returned to it ten years later, I discovered that there were all sorts of things wrong with the rhythm. I rewrote it ready to peform at the 10th Aniversary of Hull's Away With Words Open mic night.
