The following poem was published on the webzine, I Am Not A Silent Poet on 9th August 2016. Here’s the link: https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2016/08/09/heart-of-darkness-by-david-urwin/
The refugee crisis continues, and everyone gets on with their own lives. Although many of us are disgusted by what the refugees have to endure, governments fail to take clear and decisive action. Europeans and Americans in particular live with great wealth and privelege, much of which could be shared with suffering refugees. Yet still so little happens to relieve their suffering. Are we all essentially selfish and protective of our own interests? This poem address
es the plight of unaccompanied child refugees in particular.
Heart of Darkness
Something is rotten in the states of Europe
children fighting for survival tear-gassed
at close range
into the eyes
down the throat.
Something is rotten in the Jungle
of democracy
and civilisation
refugee children starving
sent away from terror to suffer in horror
or be killed on the road to a better life.
Something is rotten in the states of America
land of the free capital of liberty.
Is something rotten at the heart of humanity?
© David Urwin 2016
refs: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/02/child-refugees-calais-failed-by-britain
Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 4, August 3rd, 2016.
Photos courtesy of ibtimes.co.uk, and (teargas image) independent.co.uk
JadedMountain 
Yes, we are all basically selfish and protective of our own interest because materially we are “animals”. But of course as there is a moral and ethical and religious rules there should be solidarity and care for the others. But things are not so easy to work out.
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