Friday 15 August 2008

Tanzania: Whose Child is This?

From Tanzania 2008 Photo Album
Day 8 - Mvuti

Whose child is this?

A boy perfect
Except he had no words
Only grunts and unexpected
High-pitched giggles as though laughing at the trick
Fate had played on him.

He stood in line with the children
But they shied away from his
Mangled right arm.

Sometimes he dropped unexpectedly
To the ground as though he derived
Comfort from the warm sand if not from the
Smiles of other children.

His bedkit and new clothes safely in the arms of his mama
He returns, dressed again in tatters, to stare with big dark and
Knowing eyes at each SCAW volunteer in turn.

Maybe he sees the sorrow and concern for his
Welfare in our hearts.

He reaches with his good hand to
Gently touch Judy’s blond hair.
And he wanders off again.
What if his mama has AIDS or Malaria?

Whose child is this?

Linda Webb
for Team Tanzania


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