Remembering pupil Federico
Teacher's roll call,
Federico's name echoes,
"Absent again ma'am" classmates chorus.
He is in one of the old churches,
selling sweet smelling Sampaguita flowers
to devoted religious folks,
3 chains for 5 pesos
to offer to the Patron Senor Sto. Niño.
But here is one Niño , very much alive,
on the street from night 'till morning,
with no one to offer sweet smelling flowers
to adorn his naked ,tired, neck,
nobody cares, nobody sees , nobody knows!
I cried in anguish for you !my dear nino!
your face I see everyday
niños like you everywhere!
Small frail body with hungry stomach,
no shoes, dirty clothes!
Sleeping in the classroom
to wait for the night to shine again!
Federico's name echoes,
"Absent again ma'am" classmates chorus.
He is in one of the old churches,
selling sweet smelling Sampaguita flowers
to devoted religious folks,
3 chains for 5 pesos
to offer to the Patron Senor Sto. Niño.
But here is one Niño , very much alive,
on the street from night 'till morning,
with no one to offer sweet smelling flowers
to adorn his naked ,tired, neck,
nobody cares, nobody sees , nobody knows!
I cried in anguish for you !my dear nino!
your face I see everyday
niños like you everywhere!
Small frail body with hungry stomach,
no shoes, dirty clothes!
Sleeping in the classroom
to wait for the night to shine again!
copyrightsmm©2005-2010
photo courtesy of Jojo Pensica, Jr.
published in Sinfonia de Amor campaign 2006
http://ginodartali.org/poetry%20ecuador.pdf
http://ginodartali.org/cause.htm
photo courtesy of Jojo Pensica, Jr.
published in Sinfonia de Amor campaign 2006
http://ginodartali.org/poetry%20ecuador.pdf
http://ginodartali.org/cause.htm
