Once upon a time,

They were happy

Like you and I.

There were smiles on their faces

And they were gleaming

With joy.

But things went downhill

And one day-

We became the fools.

We became ignorant

To the reality.

We became fearful of

What could be

And we became

Forgetful

Of who we once were.

And now we see them starve!

We see hunger knocking

On their wooden doors,

Then come barging in

Like waves that crash

Along shore.

Welcome, hunger.

"Have you come to feed

On my innocent child?"

And yet-

We continue to watch

Knowing not what to do.

Tell me

Men-

And the children of Adam-

Tell me

How you perceive

Your brothers and sisters

Hunger stricken

With their delicate hands

Clutching their bare

Stomachs?

Tell me

How you feel

About your dead brother

Lying in the soil

Because of a war

You started?

Tell me

A million times

How sorry you are-

Though you may not be-

About the times

Your eyes witnessed

A crying child,

Whose tears

Were collected in puddles

Along the Nile?

Tell me

Why your mother

Clutches onto you

For hope,

When you offer nothing back

In return-

Tell me

Why we sit around

When Malcolm X

And Martin Luther King Jr.

Took their stand

Amongst thousands

Of people

Calling for a better world?

Tell me!

We've come thus far

And now- it's time

To turn back

To God.

It's time we take our stands!

It's time

We open up our hearts

And let the droplets

Of rain

Pour into them.

It's time we stop

This persecution

And rip apart

The darkness-

Letting our torches

Lead the way.

And so

I take my stand

Against this jury.

I stand

With all my free will

And hold the torch

Towards the billions of stars

That scatter heavenly

Around the moon's beauty.

I stand

Waiting for you

To light my torch.

I stand

With my head up high

And my eyes looking

Forward,

Waiting-

Waiting for the jury's response.