贫穷(Poverty)

详细内容

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youaskmewhatispoverty?listentome.hereiamdirty,smelly,andwithno"proper"under-

wearonandwiththestenchofmyrottingteethnearyou.iwilltellyou.listentome.listenwithoutpity.icannotuseyourpity.listenwithunderstanding.putyourselfinmydirty,worn-out,ill-fittingshoes,andhearme.

povertyisgettingupeverymorningfromadirtyandillness-stainedmattress.thesheetshavelongsincebeenusedfordiapers.povertyislivinginasmellthatneverleaves.thisisasmellofurine,sourmilk,andspoilingfoodsometimesjoinedwiththestrongsmelloflong-cookedonions.

onionsarecheap.ifyouhavesmelledthissmell,youdidnotknowhowitcame.itisthesmelloftheoutdoorprivy.itisthesmellofyoungchildrenwhocannotwalkthelongdarkwayinthenight.itisthesmellofthemattresseswhereyearsof"aidents"havehappened.itisthesmellofthemilkwhichhasgonesourbecausetherefrigeratorlonghasnotworked,anditcostsmoneytogetitfixed.itisthesmellofrottinggarbage.icouldburyit,butwhereistheshovel?shovelscostmoney.

povertyislookingintoablackfuture.yourchildrenwon'tplaywithmyboys.theywillturntootherboyswhostealtogetwhattheywant.icanalreadyseethembehindthebarsoftheirprisoninsteadofbehindthebarsofmypoverty.ortheywillturntothefreedomofalcoholordrugs,andfindthemselvesenslaved.andmydaughter?atbest,thereisforheralifelikemine.

povertyisanacidthatdripsonprideuntilallprideiswornaway.povertyisachiselthatchipsonhonoruntilhonoriswornaway.someofyousaythatyouwoulddosomethinginmysituation,andmaybeyouwould,forthefirstweekorthefirstmonth,butforyearafteryearafteryear?

ihaveeoutofmydespairtotellyouthis.rememberididnotefromanotherplaceoranothertime.otherslikemeareallaroundyou.lookatuswithanangryheart,angerthatwillhelpyouandhelpme.angerthatwillletyoutellofme.thepoorarealwayssilent.canyoubesilent,too?