Save the Children

For the Castleford Branch, Save the Children

In the fetid air
of desert sands
tiny hands
reach out for crumbs
of comfort

save the children
save the children

huge haunted eyes
plagued by flies
stare from a million tallies
bellies distended
mouths agape

save the children
save the children

Sunil is five, an orphan in Bombay;
we've kept him alive for a year
although he’s 5000 miles away: 
don’t just shed an easy tear,
give them your help today

save the children
help us
save the children.

From Box. Published by Mammoth, 1990.