Blog Action Day 2008

The Bean Eaters


They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair.
Dinner is a casual affair.
Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood,
Tin flatware.

Two who are Mostly Good.
Two who have lived their day,
But keep on putting on their clothes
And putting things away.

And remembering . . .
Remembering, with twinklings and twinges,
As they lean over the beans in their rented back room that
is full of beads and receipts and dolls and cloths,
tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes.

Gwendolyn Brooks


What does it mean to be poor? For the most part, people focus on the homeless, those we see sleeping on the street or begging for change on corners and outside (and sometimes inside) stores. This is as it should be perhaps, those we see in dire straits are the most in need, and deserve our focus and attention.

But there are others, possible millions of others, hidden from sight, who are struggling. And sadly, while our Presidential candidates are doing a lot of talking about the Middle Class and what the definition of "Rich" is, there has been next to no discussion about the Poor, working or otherwise. Very troubling. There's little we can do about the problem if we don't see that there is a problem. One of the first steps we can take is to open our eyes.

Faces of World Poverty

What we can do to help end poverty in the Third World

Help eliminate poverty – invest in women

On The Working Poor

Poor & Elderly

Health care for the Poor and Elderly

More Poverty Fighting ideas . (I am a big fan of the idea of Microlending, as well as the venerable Oxfam America, and regularly contribute to the local Maryland Food Bank)

Blog Action Day 2008