Ramon Pena is a member of the NYC Independence Party Executive Committee. He is a leader, a builder of the independent movement here in NYC and across the country. He is a man of courage, commitment and compassion. Recently, Ramon and his mother lost their East Harlem home of 20 years. Ramon is now temporarily living in a shelter on Randall’s Island.
He wrote this poem after his first week at the shelter.
30 BEDS OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT
One Huge room
30 Beds
30 Men
30 men forgotten
30 men who have given up
Politics and politicians
Gave them 30 beds
Sleeping and hopeless
Underdeveloped
30 Men who need development
Partisanship–
They don’t know what that is
It has affected them in every way possible
30 Plates of cold food
30 men yelling and clamoring for development
Not knowing that is what they are yelling for
1 man
#31
I know what growth and development is
Share it with the 30
The 30 men
30 men who feel that 30 beds is all they need
I am #31
we need more
I bring development
it is hope
Thanks for this heartfelt and powerful poem Ramon and Cathy.