A vulture at a feeding station,
A soft whimpering in the
Bush. South Africa. A 3 year old,
is trying to crawl her way
To a feeding station. Hollow
Eyes, bloated belly. A
Vulture lands nearby,
Waits. The photographer
Takes photographs then
Chases the vulture away,
Sits under a tree and cries.
The photograph runs
In newspapers all over the
World. The photographer
Receives outraged letters
And midnight phone
Calls. Why didn’t he pick up
The child? Journalists in Sudan
Had been told not to
Touch famine victim because
Because of risk of trans-
Mitting diseases. The man
Sorry he didn’t pick up the child.
A year later in an apparent
Suicide at 33 they found
Him dead