Peanut Butter and Jelly on White Bread (#NaPoWriMo Day 29!) One #poem to go!

This feels very rough draft-y, but at least it is done. Day 29.

I did the prompt wrong, I see now. We were to write from a headline. I need to rewrite. OH WELL! Here is what I have for now....

The headline I borrowed from (with its facts and figures intact) was “Enrollment in school lunch assistance programs reaches record highs” by JORGE BARRIENTOS of the Bakersfield Californian, our local daily newspaper

Peanut Butter and Jelly on White Bread

 

It is as simple as

Spaghetti and

Pizza and chicken nuggets

With fries

 

It is as simple as

90 percent of Samuel’s classmates

68 percent of Kern Kids

51 percent of California Kids

Eating free or cheap

 

There was a time

Her girls ate for free

Few questions asked,

Downcast eyes said,

“I have a need”

 

Before peanut butter

And jelly munching became

Fodder for reporters

Teens turn away

 

It is as simple as

Stigma stirring the air

(High schoolers would

Rather be hungry than

Embarassed even knowing)

 

It is as simple as

60 percent chewing

In 2000, the sandwich fest

cost $6.1 billion

In 2008 it cost $9.3 billion

 

It is as simple as hunger

It is as simple as joblessness

It is as simple as homelessness

It is as simple as compassion

Comments

[vivienne blake]

As a Brit, I'm not sure I understand all the sociological implications of this: free meals good but embarrassing? or peanut butter sandwiches bad but cheap without being embarrassing? But I enjoyed the fact that you really FELT this poem.

[Joseph Harker]

Nice job incorporating those facts and figures, they didn't overbalance the emotion at all. I agree with Vivienne, it's clear that you felt your way through this.

[Julie Jordan Scott]

This poem is about the free and reduced price meals offered at schools across the US. The need for them is on the rise. I didn't realize, until I read the article, how many students receive free meals and yes, my children received free meals at one time in the midst of a marital split and having literally NO income (I was dependent, whole-souledly on the kindness of near-strangers), the meals were very welcomed.

[one more believer]

julie i thought this was perfect... we are indeed losing our way... at times the freelunch is not all that free... but then again nothing is.... i c nothin wrong with this post and today's prompt an excellent head of PJB... a life in the day

[Erin]

I agree--you approach this topic perfectly. Very powerful.

[J D Mackenzie]

Oh Julie, I tripped on the title but once into the content this is so real - the images of poverty programs. Kern County is beautiful but the problems there, especially among the rurals, are huge. Salute to you for crafting a great poem that caused me to visualize and think and feel.
JDM

[Marie]

I feel like a PB&J right now. I'm lucky to be able to .