youaskmewhatispoverty?listentome.hereiamdirty,smelly,andwithno"proper"under-

　　wearonandwiththestenchofmyrottingteethnearyou.iwilltellyou.listentome.listenwithoutpity.icannotuseyourpity.listenwithunderstanding.putyourselfinmydirty,worn-out,ill-fittingshoes,andhearme.

　　povertyisgettingupeverymorningfromadirtyandillness-stainedmattress.thesheetshavelongsincebeenusedfordiapers.povertyislivinginasmellthatneverleaves.thisisasmellofurine,sourmilk,andspoilingfoodsometimesjoinedwiththestrongsmelloflong-cookedonions.

　　onionsarecheap.ifyouhavesmelledthissmell,youdidnotknowhowitcame.itisthesmelloftheoutdoorprivy.itisthesmellofyoungchildrenwhocannotwalkthelongdarkwayinthenight.itisthesmellofthemattresseswhereyearsof"accidents"havehappened.itisthesmellofthemilkwhichhasgonesourbecausetherefrigeratorlonghasnotworked,anditcostsmoneytogetitfixed.itisthesmellofrottinggarbage.icouldburyit,butwhereistheshovel?shovelscostmoney.

　　povertyislookingintoablackfuture.yourchildrenwon'tplaywithmyboys.theywillturntootherboyswhostealtogetwhattheywant.icanalreadyseethembehindthebarsoftheirprisoninsteadofbehindthebarsofmypoverty.ortheywillturntothefreedomofalcoholordrugs,andfindthemselvesenslaved.andmydaughter?atbest,thereisforheralifelikemine.

　　povertyisanacidthatdripsonprideuntilallprideiswornaway.povertyisachiselthatchipsonhonoruntilhonoriswornaway.someofyousaythatyouwoulddosomethinginmysituation,andmaybeyouwould,forthefirstweekorthefirstmonth,butforyearafteryearafteryear?