Haiti, 4:53 p.m. (Poem) and Relief Aid

Haiti, 4:53 p.m.

(January 12, 2010)

Night fell

and the earth rocked.

Walls came down.

The earth rocked

and they searched

 Rubble and shambles

for crumpled and crumbled.

In rubble and shambles

mayhem joined screams.

Streets, left over, filled.

Voices went silent

in clouds of dust.

Tears became prayers.

Voices went silent

in clouds of dust

and we try to imagine

What God could be thinking

to take away everything.

They have nothing

but prayers and tears.

Copyright © 2010 Maureen E. Doallas. All Rights Reserved.

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The tiny nation of Haiti, one of the poorest in the world, was devastated by an earthquake late yesterday afternoon. The following aid agencies need your donations:

◆ American Red Cross, International Response Fund, http://www.redcross.org

◆ Americares, http://www.americares.org

◆ Doctors Without Borders, http://doctorswithoutborders.org

◆ Habitat for Humanity, http://www.habitat.org

◆ Operation USA,  http://opusa.org This group requests donations of money and United Air Line miles.

◆ Save the Children, http://www.savethechildren.org

◆ Quixote Center, http://www.quixote.org/ or https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/531/t/10443/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=5861

◆ UNICEF, http://www.unicefusa.org

◆ WorldVision, http://www.worldvision.org

◆ Yele Haiti, http://www.yele.org or text YELE to 501 501 and donate $5.00. This is Wyclef Jean's nonprofit group for Haiti awareness. IMPORTANT NOTE, added January 15, 2010: Reports are that many questions are being raised about the Yele group's use of donated funds. (One such report is here.) Consequently, please use your own judgment as you consider making a charitable contribution. A listing here is not an endorsement.