Dedicated to my brother Roy
Norma Nicholson, with Cheryl Antao-Xavier
Ten years old and my hunger burned
For food and love denied.
A small glass of watery powder milk
And two ounces of cheese
Nourishment received not at home
But in school.
Food withheld as punishment
Punishment for what? My child’s heart cried out.
Hunger for food, hunger for love
A constant yearning in a bleak childhood
Spirit dies a slow death
When starved of food and love
But for me, thank God, it was not so
For indomitable Spirit keened towards
Any ray of light
That broke through the darkness
Every ray of hope
That shone on the hopeless
Spirit saw and thrived and remembered
Remembered the dark day in the life
Of a ten-year-old with a gnawing hunger
Running with a flask of coffee for the teacher
Running and running, so as not to be late
Falling. Smashed flash, spilled coffee
Running back home
A child’s heart pleading to the Universe
To be given another flask, another chance
But the darkness of evil in a guardian’s soul
Knew no mercy, knew no compassion
Acted with inhumanity
Tied my child’s slight body to a tree
So tight I could not move
Left me to stand all day
Without food or water
Darkness and despair settling on a young soul
But then
A ray of light from a torch
Split the darkness
A small voice whispered hope
Small hands cut the ropes with a knife
A little brother
Led me to shelter
And shared half his supper
That act of kindness kindled hope
That has shone in memory through trying times
That act built purpose, solidified resolve
To be the ray of hope
Shining on others
In their hours of darkness.
