I see her
in the festive rush
that is tiring
and cards
which people have no time to send
but they do.
I see her
in the sounds of Joy
to the World
and Jingle Bells
cranked out of loudspeakers
in malls and street corners.
But
she is missing
from the victims of wars
which seem to be routine fate
of humankind.
She is missing
from young lives
who have lost parents
to the famished beasts of fanatics.
She is missing
from the sufferers of physical
and psychological abuse.
She is missing
from lives
deprived of basic food,
clean water and warm clothing.
She is missing
from homes fallen to warfare
and children
who are innocent bait
for Aids and cancer.

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Stephen Gill

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