 |
| source* |
Auschwitz
is on a tour, lest we forget Nazi death camps.**
Human
trafficking has been on tour, but not in museums.
It
moves with slave keepers wherever they find those who’ll pay
under
tables for power, pleasure and unlawful gain.
Bring
it closer, so I can hear.
Bring
it nearer so I can see.
The
numbers of victims are huge, how can they be so unobserved?
We
asked Germans and Poles how they could not see.
Now it’s we
who
are hoodwinked and docile; now it’s we who claim
we don’t
see. And we don’t. I don’t. Is it staring at me?
Make
it louder, I will listen.
Make it
stink so I’ll see.
The exhibits
are flesh and bones, human victims of greed.
As
long as we buy under-priced and illicit products,
as
long as we believe we can’t afford and must possess
and
need not know nor care—we contribute, we are there.
Tell
me where the buck stops.
Show
me how the buck can stop with me.
Awareness
brings on pain, and I am willing to feel it.
Small
steps prepare the ground, and I am willing to begin.
Little
progress may discourage, but I am willing to
stay
true, to believe as horror ends, justice will break through.
*The ribbon colors are dark blue for human trafficking, light blue for child abuse
and teal for sexual abuse victims. “Individually, the colors represent so many
other awareness issues. Therefore it is important to custom design a ribbon
specific to the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking and child sexual
exploitation,” said Sherri Jefferson, the founder of the African American
Juvenile Justice Project. Sherri Jefferson is the founder and managing
attorney of the Family Law Center, the LawMobile is the LawOnWheels
initiative. and the AAJJP and has been dedicated to improving
the lives of clients’ one family at a time. 22 October 2015
By JOANNA BERENDT,
My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2017 Susan L. Chast
A great prompt it was Susan.
ReplyDelete"Tell me where the buck stops." Such a profound line connecting past, present and future. The questions raised here point to our worthlessness. Poverty is the main culprit at least in my country. You can't imagine what horrors we hear of our everyday living in India concerning this issue. So heartbreaking.
Heart wrenching fantastic poem. Sometimes I think people are robots, just following the herd and just gather and gather at the cost of what. At the cost of more than we want to know. How many must suffer to sustain the lives of the ones at the top. Awareness is a great step forwards. So an important prompt and your poem says it all.
ReplyDeleteThe answer is for our governments to stop trading with countries that condone human trafficking. Sadly there are just not enough of us (and that does me you and me) to pressure our own governments and even if we did there will always be something far more important for them to do. So not this year then!
ReplyDeleteThe is a most telling post Susan and we really should pressure our representatives more.
we can but hope that justice will always prevail.. sometimes that hope feels distant however
ReplyDeleteI hope you are right, "justice will break through."
ReplyDeleteHi Susan. Thank you for this weeks prompt. Lets hope Justice will break through. Another good poem.
ReplyDeleteOh how I still hope that justice will break through. A powerful poem, my friend..........could not be said any better.
ReplyDeleteAwesome poem, Susan.
ReplyDeleteYou tear into the hypocrisy of our world. A world that pretends that human trafficking doesn't exist, a world that does not want to own up and accept responsibility. And it is this hypocrisy that we need to address as a human family. To feel the shame in our veins and doing something about this.
As you know. here in California. awareness is being raised. People are encouraged to learn and report any suspicions.
ReplyDelete'Show me how the buck can stop with me' - that to me is the essence of this prompt... to accept that each one can make a difference. Touching!
ReplyDeleteWe are complicit by buying cheap products but it is not straightforward because without the western dollars there situation would be even worse. The offending countries need to respect their citizens by granting equal opportunity and a living wage. Yes and little piggies do fly. The West need to clamp down using legislature on exploitation including the sex tourism industry which is rampant in SE Asia.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that, Susan!!
ReplyDeleteHuman trafficking is one of the most organized crime and at its roots is profit from human misery. May the victims find healing, hope and justice.
Superb piece...very powerful write up!
I like the plea for awareness that pervades this poem. If we are not aware of the victims' plight, we just go on our way--and they continue to suffer at the hands of their exploiters.
ReplyDeletejustice will break through' a powerful write...
ReplyDelete