Dreading Time
The old kitchen clock hangs on the wall
Seeing us waiting, yearning, wishing for it all
The clock strikes five and our hearts start to race
Might be time to put on a happy face
The clock strikes six and we plug in the refrigerator
Hoping the next sounds will be a motivator
The clock strikes eight and we hear our stomachs growling
While listening to the dogs outside howling
The clock strikes ten and tears roll down my face
All the shame and sadness is such a disgrace
The clock strikes midnight and rouses us from our sleep
The younger boy says, “It’s okay, here’s something to eat.”
The clock continues to tick as he tries to feed us
The uneaten school lunch, now all mushed to pieces
The clock strikes two and we go back to bed
The clock has stopped moving, it’s probably dead.
—From a family member of an addict
We are all “waiting, yearning, wishing” that someone would have the courage to do a petition to permanently remove poker/gaming machines in the CNMI. Too many addicted and too many families, especially children, continue to suffer.
The revenues generated from these thieves, oops, I meant, machines, is not near enough to compensate for all the social ills and other negative aspects.