A Privileged Child?
If you were born a privileged child,
and all your needs were met,
you never were deceived, beguiled;
lived daily under threat,
Then you live in a different sphere
from children round the world
whose daily lives are dark and drear
and into conflict hurled.
You do not know the hunger pangs
that gnaw at their insides,
or suffering at the hands of gangs
and family suicides.
A baby yearns for mother’s arms,
but lies there all alone
while soldiers firing guns alarms
those hearing wounded moan.
Such is the turmoil of the lives
of thousands, yes, times ten.
Some grow up trained to kill with knives;
at twelve they’re fighting “men”!
If you were born a privileged child
and never knew such threat,
Let child injustice be reviled;
it’s time you paid this debt.
© 2018 S T Kimbrough, Jr., All rights reserved. Used by permission
Joyce D. Sohl, Laywoman-in-Residence
Joyce D. Sohl has been Laywoman-in-Residence since 2009 as a full-time volunteer. She retired as CEO of United Methodist Women in 2004. She is the author of 4 books, a teacher, retreat leader, writer and non-professional musician. Here at the Center her work is in the area of Spirituality & the Arts with such programs as Tuesdays in the Chapel, Vespers & All That Jazz, Poet’s Corner, quarterly retreats, and art exhibits.