“Mommy feed me, mommy please.
I am so weak, can’t feel my knees.
My legs and arms and hands are shaking.
My bones are flimsy, I think I’m breaking.

Mommy help me, mommy don’t cry.
I know that the well is still bone dry.
I know that the crops aren’t alive.
Mommy mommy please don’t cry.

Mommy mommy I am dying.
I understand that you’re really trying.
But there’s no food, and my body is drying!
Mommy mommy please stop crying.”

“Baby boy, baby boy.
I wish I could bring you so much joy.
But there is no food! I cannot feed.?I know you’re hungry, but my fingers bleed.

I work all day, I sew at dawn.
Just to give you the clothes you have on.
I barely make three cents a day.
That can’t feed us, no matter how hard I pray.

I’m sorry son, I know you’re dying.
Each passing day I just keep trying.
But my son, MY son, I’m very sore.
I’m worried I can’t fight any more.”

“Mommy no, mommy no!
I’ll work hard, let ME sew!
Mommy we’ll make it! Mommy we must!
I won’t let you disappear into the dust!

So mommy quit working. Mommy relax.
I’ll work your job, we will mend the cracks!
I’ll care for my brothers and sisters, too!
Momma you know I’d do anything for you.

Mommy, mommy. Today I made four
Pennies, one cent more.
It may not be much, but it will buy us some bread.
You can have mine, I’d rather me dead.”

“Baby boy, baby boy.
I wish I could bring you so much joy.
The doctor came to me today,
I wish there was another way.

He said that in about a week I’ll be dead.
Baby boy, you take my bread.
Feed your sisters and brothers, too.
You’re old enough, you know what to do.

I love you son, I love you son.
You’re a hero for all that you have done.
I’ll miss you baby, but I love you dear.
Please work hard, don’t shed one tear.”

“Mommy mommy! You can’t be serious!
I’m weak, I’m dying, and I’m delerious!
But I know you’re strong! You aren’t going to die!
I’ll make sure of it! The well can’t be dry!

I’ll run out to the well right now!
It’s dry but I’ll fill it somehow!
I’ll drill it deeper thats what I’ll do!
I’ll capture the moisture! I can do that too!”

“Baby boy, baby boy. Is it working I wonder?
Did it work when you dug under?
I won’t leave, it’s not my time.
Not till I faint on a dime.

I won’t leave! I won’t die!
Baby boy I’ll really try!
I’ll make it through the mornings and every night!
I’ll give it my all and put up a fight!

I can do this baby! It’s because of you!
I’m stronger because of all you do!
My son, you saved me, you saved me from the end.
I promise you, our lives I will mend!”

“Mommy, mommy, I’m proud of you!
I know you can do it! I believe in you!
So here, take my bread.
I can’t stand the thought of you being dead.

Oh the sun. I feel like we’re burning.
I wish we could continue learning.
But I’m here with you and that’s what’s best.
I promise to never leave your nest.

I love you mommy. Mommy I love you.
Get some rest, it’s what you should do.
I’ll see you in the morning for a brand new day.
nothing will ever take my mommy away!”

“Good night my son, good night my son.
I love you, thank you for all you have done.
Tomorrow is a brand new day.
A day for living in every possible way.

I will be here in the morning, as strong as ever.
I will never leave. We are a family together.
I love you my son, my son.
Thank you for all that you have done.”

“Dear, African government.
My mommy died and this is all you sent?
Five pennies and nothing more.
My mommy is gone and I’m so sore.

My sister Destiny, she’s probably going soon.
My brothers and I work from noon to noon.
Six pennies, we make a day.
Not one saved, our money will stay.

But you give us five! That gives us twenty-four hours.
I could have worked more and given us more strength and power.
But now my mommy, she is gone.
Our well has an inch of water for what I have done.

But you can’t help us with more than a nickel.
Well my family, we’re living on less than a trickle
Of water and income.
And there are six of us, and that’s all you’ve done.

Well, thank you for your five cents.
I’m sure it didn’t break your bank since
All you do is take in money,
You think that our lives are extremely funny.

Well my mommy said she would make it, but you took her away.
If only she were alive and breathing well today.
The doctor said malaria, a bite from a mosquito.
My mommy made a difference, but I doubt you even know.

Because of you my mommy is now a wooden cross,
Yet a nickel is all you give for her sorrowful loss.
I miss my mommy, but you don’t care.
Sincerely the kid, unable to breathe air...”

My mommy died, because there was no food.
She said she gave my brother her bread, but she gave it to a dying dude.
He lived on to this day, and had enough motivation to plow a field.
My mommy was buried today right next to that field.

He wanted her there to tell everyone else to carry on.
He wanted her there to remind everyone else to stay strong.
He wanted her there so he can thank my mommy for saving his life.
The truth is, that man is the reason why we are alive.

I found out that man was my real father.
He left when I was six, after harming my brother.
He left us no money, he took all our food.
My mommy gave up hers to save that father dude.

So now, I am lost. I’m without both of them.
I work, I hunt, I plant, I hem.
I remember my mother every day
I acknowledge her courage for how she went away.

So now every time I look at bread,
I wish it was me that was dead.
But now we are making eight cents a day.
We’re working hard, almost there, I pray.

So whenever you’re at your lowest of lows,
Remember there are people in worse places than you.
Whenever you don’t feel like you have nowhere to go.
Remember there is a place for you too.