FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Famine, war, drought and debt
Cast dark shadows
As despots, Acts of God and failed crops
Snatch food from the mouths
Of those who need it most.
What wouldn't they give for scraps
From the plate of the bountiful West?
People here never queue for morsels
We seem to have it all
And think nothing of waste
Because tomorrow we can buy another meal.
Companies consumed by greed
Profit at humanity's cost
Casting aside sacks of food
Not counting the cost
Not sparing a thought
For homeless and starving
Who beg and forage
For a few stale crusts.
Give us today our daily bread
So much fine food wasted
By the supermarket door
It sickens me to see
How so called caring corporations thrive
When will they wake up and do their part?
Africa's children
With highly visible ribs
Would give anything for supermarket waste
Counted unfit for the consumption of the West
Just because it's passed its use by date.
What do Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda care
That many will die today
Through lack of nutrition
While they, blinded by greed

Follow company policy
Spelling ignorance of the plight
Of the starving multitudes
One man once fed
With loaves and fish
On a Galileean shore.
© Mel Dent 15 September 2003