{"line1":"In a smoky pub, young restless","line2":"glances ricochet across","line3":"strands of cloudy air.","line4":"","line5":"Children, tidy in their blue and white","line6":"school uniforms, hold hands—","line7":"some skipping, others laughing.","line8":"The ever-present tarred billows of","line9":"exhaust swirl invisibly in their wake.","line10":"","line11":"Huge platters, overflowing with","line12":"fresh shrimp, crab, crayfish, crisp","line13":"raw vegetables, and hot steamed fish","line14":"pass from hand to hand. Most of the","line15":"diners, satiated, leave vast portions","line16":"to be poured in the bins.","line17":"","line18":"“No Mommy, no Daddy, no Brother,","line19":"no Sister. Give me something—10 rupee.”","line20":"The child stretches his tiny hands into","line21":"the cab. His lifeless oval eyes","line22":"rise over blistered rat-eaten lips.","line23":"Monotonously, he repeats the phrase","line24":"over and over again.","line25":"","line26":"Ruddy-cheeked, flaxen-haired, bundled","line27":"and tucked within warm snow suits, the children","line28":"ride gallantly through the winter’s amusement","line29":"park atop their Shetland ponies passing through","line30":"a gauntlet of colorful Christmas lights.","line31":"","line32":"Barefooted and tattered, racing amongst","line33":"the rubbish, the children giggle and hide.","line34":"A giant cow lingers nearby feeding in the","line35":"rancid garbage field.","line36":"","line37":"I am in","line38":"this world","line39":"and yet,","line40":"I live","line41":"knowingly ignoring","line42":"the pain.","seoTitle":"Real Time — A Poem About Global Inequality and Conscience","seoDescription":"A searing poem juxtaposing scenes of excess and poverty happening simultaneously across the world, forcing the reader to confront complicity — by Pemba Umoja.","keywords":"real time poem, inequality poetry, global conscience poem, poverty poetry, social justice poem, Pemba Umoja poetry"}