Rationalized Denial

I saw in the news today Famine in Africa

African mother's weeping,
no tears fall,
African father's traveling across parched land
detached--family man,
children with the African moon in their eyes
bellowing stomachs,
skin stretched over tender bones
while we eat big fine meals then belch,
rubbing our stomachs
like fat cats we are,
slick and self-satisfied.

I saw a bare-breasted African woman

Dried breast's emphasized,
a shadow of a child clinging
little heart failing,
milk’s dry, land’s dry for all but the flies
as the African sun beats down relentlessly,
a hovering of despair,
the beat of hunger goes on and on and on
while we sit back, comfortable,
the golden arch, thirty-one flavors,
Rationalized Denial.

Oh Angels of Africa
I hear thunder moaning, hollow you drop,
plucked before ripened
and all the lion's congregate at your grave
all the lion's congregate at your grave.

Famine made the news today

But Judy is preparing for fellowship,
while Jack sips a bud light
ain't this the life,
oh Angels of Africa,
when did we forget how fragile the violet
is under the desert sun?
or how beautiful the orange moon is
under the umbrella tree?

The concrete jungle breaks through the clouds...

We hear no Angel's cry
for waves of feet rush through Wall Street,
sentiment imprisoned by the concrete life
sentiment imprisoned by the concrete life.

Oh Africa,

How can we ignore the ocean
swelling with your tears?
or see that the moon no longer
dances at night?
When did we close our eyes
to the brilliant colors
of Africa now fading
like a rainbow across blue skies?
Where did we go wrong?

I saw in the news today,

Famine in Africa....
her fervent cries alive
in the ebb of parted shores
how can we ignore?