kean svay, cambodia. 2006.
Her intense gaze pierced my back.
Seemingly peaceful, the waves splashed the edges of the floating restaurant.
She pleaded. Soft cries rang through her swollen abdomen.
With each bite, I only tasted sadness.
Here.
She licked the fish clean, savored my pommello.
Searching for Substance 
So poignant. “With each bite, I only tasted sadness.” How we take things for granted, want to help, don’t always know how…You’ve called up so much feeling with your 42.
Yeah, it’s easy to overlook hunger or poverty when you don’t see it face to face. But when you do encounter it and cannot turn away, it’s deeply compelling- for which it should be.
How are you not famous? Your writing always astonishes me.
Aww.. Thanks girl. You are too kind, Lani, really!
‘the taste of sadness’ I can taste it too, now.
So sad and poignant. Well done! ♥
Such a strong emotion throughout. Great work!
oh wow. 😦
Lovely and sad. And what a beautiful photo. Did you take it? I’m really glad you hitchhiked – I would have hated to miss this one.
I did! It’s a photo of a girl I met in Cambodia, who ate the leftovers of our meal. 😦 really sad and makes one question why such poverty exists and why the world doesn’t seem to notice…
Oh, this is so sad. It is so heart wrenching the inequality that exists in the world, don’t you think?
Beautifully done Soapie.
🙂
Indeed; in first world countries I think we’ve done a good job of hiding inequality; it’s there, just not as visible. In 3rd world countries inequality watches you while you eat lunch.
Thanks!
Very well said, my friend. Unfortunate reality.
Aw makes my every day stresses seem so minute. So sad indeed.
are you on a vacation somewhere?
Nah, I wish I was on vacation though!
The photo and story are from a previous trip to Cambodia in 2006, but felt compelled to share this by answering a writing prompt (through Yeah Write, linked above).