Hungering for Answers
We should stay the course
To turn the corner
To see the light
At the end of the tunnel
Yet long-term solutions
For the hungry
Are difficult to stomach
As for those who have
Empty hearts
Eatin’ out
Over the question
What too due
And how fast
This is another poem in honor of the 50th anniversary of the “War on hunger.” Well-fed minds are familiar with the tensions between short-term “charity” and long-term solutions in addressing social issues. Of course, long-term responses and procrastination across generations often go hand-in-hand among those with well-fed stomachs. Hunger is not an issue that can be compassionately put off. Tomorrow’s solutions still leave today’s empty belly empty. It strikes me that the juxtaposition of great wealth and grinding poverty in our world yields a parallel juxtapositioning of empty bellies and empty hearts. A typical excuse that well-fed minds make to their empty hearts is that continued hunger will teach those hungering how to be more responsible and avoid their hunger at some later date. This sets up a bizarre serendipity in that children are most likely to be poor and hungry as well as thirsty sponges for learning. So, what are these hungry children learning? My guess is that hungry children learn more about the callousness of those with excess than the obvious lessons in securing food. As if the excruciating experience of grinding poverty isn’t incentive enough! Apparently not. Of course, there are profound social factors outside of the control of hungry children and the overwhelming majority of hungry adults. Given these realities, it is absurd to posit that individual irresponsibility is the primary cause of hunger. Probably much worse than absurd; in fact: empty-hearted. May we smash the barriers that keep us from sharing our abundance with those who have too little.
