This week MLK Academy 6th, 7th, and 8th students discussed the impact of hunger on low income communities. Students were introduced to the term “food desert” which is an area where it is difficult to have access to affordable high-quality food. Students came up with interesting reasons for this hunger crisis, such as grocery store chains over pricing food, low employment wages, and layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Together students read one of my own poems “Hunger Is A Dry Desert,” where I used comparisons (similes and metaphors) to describe the effects of hunger. Hunger is a vacant lot that dreams of becoming a community garden with fruits and vegetables/Hunger is as sneaky as a thief, stealing your health and self-esteem.
Inspired by my poem, students wrote their own poems describing how they view hunger and what society can do to end this issue. Please enjoy these published poems.
Hunger Is Many Things
London
Hunger is a message without words.
Hunger is like a squid without camouflage.
Hunger is like a store with nothing to buy.
Hunger is an instrument without sounds.
Hunger is a calculator without numbers.
Hunger is a poem without drafts.
Hunger is like a male lion without his name.
Hunger is like a fish out of water.
Hunger is like a person with no skin tone.
A way my city can end this hunger issue is by not
over pricing food and try to give others more money.
Hunger is Unacceptable
Stephon
Hunger is unacceptable.
Hunger is a song without sound.
Hunger is a sheep without hair.
Hunger is like the day without shadow.
Hunger is a snake without a rattle.
Hunger is a duck without the waddle.
Hunger is a boat with the paddle.
Hunger is like the sun with no shine.
