Who‘s Your Neighbor? Poem by Dr John Celes

The unborn child, your own offspring,
Twisting and turning in your womb,
Dreaming of its life upon earth,
Praying to God for its safe birth!

The babe abandoned near the dumps,
By parents as unwanted child,
Unable to breathe, eat, or sleep,
Bitten by street-dogs, yet not dead!

The child – a bonded laborer,
Having to work for parents’ debts,
Dreaming of better days ahead,
But, left to slog for its life-time!

The brethren forced into vice-dens,
And taught to maim and kill others,
And use substances of abuse,
Whose nights are days, and darkness, light!

The beggar with a begging bowl,
With unkempt hair, half-dressed in rags,
Pleading for anything to eat
Or coins that could buy him a treat!

The rag-picker who scurries forth
Along the road-side searching for
Bits of paper, thrown-away things
That could fetch him money to eat!

The servant boy or girl who works
From dawn till dusk doing house-chores,
And paid a pittance often late,
Abused and chided, punished too!

The widow who struggles to live
With honor in a ruthless world,
Commented for no fault of hers,
Escaping sexual advances.

The battered youth that’s left half-dead,
Pushed off the train by miscreants,
Groaning with pain from broken limbs,
Punished for saving a girl’s honor!

The poor pavement dwellers who sleep
By the road-side, weary from work,
Awaiting death from drunk drivers
On date and time, unknown to them!

And there are many more unknown
Strangers and foes and terrorists –
Misguided ones in devils’ grip:
Pray God should rescue ev’n such souls!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-8-2009