Slums

erwinkennythomas on Aug 18, 2011

Tags: Dharavi, Mumbai, Nairobi, Philippines, slum, Smokey Mountains, united states

Slums are a major problem in many countries around the world. When will the least among us begin to live with dignity?

Slums are a disgrace

Slum or shack dwellers

Could be found

All over our world

- – -

Their dwellings

That could be found

In the developed

And developing world

Are a blight on society

- – -

From Skid Row in the United States

To Dharavi, Mumbai of India

Nairobi, Kenya, to the Smokey

Mountains of the Philippines,

Squalor and deprivation

Are present

- – -

Some 900 million people

Around the world

Are classified as slum dwellers

They live with poverty,

High unemployment, illiteracy

And go hungry

- – -

Sanitation is poor

There’s a lack of a clean water supply

In cases, diseases reap havoc among them

In their shanty towns

Where no ambulances and fire trucks

Can traverse their narrow

And congested alleys

- – -

In these deplorable

And overcrowding conditions

There are alcoholism and drug abuse

A high rate of mental health diseases

Image via Wikipedia

And suicides

- – -

There’s no garbage collection

People wallow in filth

Babies are undernourished

Cry and die like flies

- – -

Experts blame these conditions

On urbanization

The relocation of country dwellers

Into cities

But when will society start

Addressing seriously

These conditions among us?

- – -

When will the least among us

Begin to live with dignity

In a world that has so much?

- – -

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Comments (15)

yellow rose on Aug 18, 2011
The explosive growth of slums over the last decade, especially in Third World mega-cities of Mexico City and other capitals of Latin America to Africa (Lagos, Chad) to India, China, Philippines and Indonesia, it is likely fundamental geopolitical phenomenon of our time.Good share…
okkhattak on Aug 18, 2011
nice
Dreamy777 on Aug 18, 2011
nice work
CHIPMUNK on Aug 18, 2011
very good
Cyni1106 on Aug 18, 2011
Things are so expensive and jobs are few, it’s sad that this is all most people have to resort to living in slums cause the government does’nt recognize the need for employment to get them out of the slums. Don’t even want to get started on this subject, there is so much to be debated on this. Good job, you hit the nail on the head, so to speak.
aheed411 on Aug 18, 2011
Nice article
Sebastian Onciu on Aug 18, 2011
It is truly sad that so many people live in slums in inhumane conditions and few of them manage to get out of there.I don’t think the situation will improve,especially because the population of the planet keeps on growing very fast.
papaleng on Aug 18, 2011
My house is a stone-throw away from a slum area. I can totally relate with your thoughts and emotions. I guess, these dwellers are partly to blame for their conditions.
Moses Ingram on Aug 18, 2011
I agree with you. It is wrong in this world of plenty.
lapasan on Aug 18, 2011
I am moved with this poem. In my country there are many slum dwellers who live in poverty. On the other hand there are few who are filthy rich who have the money to buy luxuries in life.
Mary Thomas on Aug 18, 2011
It’s time to face these problems.
Mary Thomas on Aug 18, 2011
It\\\’s time to face these problems.
Martin Kloess on Aug 19, 2011
san franccisco’ are no better
Martin Kloess on Aug 19, 2011
San Francisco’s are no better
rappeter13 on Aug 19, 2011
Impressive work of art. Thanks a lot for doing this, opening our eyes.

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