Since the break of dawn, I heard the clink,
Of meager coins, unable to sync.
The debts ascended, hopes were crushed,
We clawed for survival, but dreams were hushed.

I watched my parents, under the load,
Waging battles, their spirits corrode.
Their faces are gaunt, their wills erode,
But they persisted, down this dark road.

The joy evaporated, replaced with grief,
As our aspirations crumbled, beyond belief.
The dwelling cramped, yet we held tight,
No matter how ruthless the fight.

The garments were torn, the soles worn thin,
But love’s fierce flame would burn within.
The table is often bare, a desperate sight,
But we held onto faith with all our might.

I grew resilient, with less in hand,
A heart unyielding, in this barren land.
While others thrived, we fought to stay,
Our pockets hollow dreams astray.

Yet through those nights of crushing dread,
We clung together, hearts bled.
For though the world would turn its back,
Our bond was fierce, never slack.

Relatives turned away, cold and still,
Unwilling to lend a hand or fulfill.
Their eyes averted, their hearts ignored,
As we faced our trials, unexplored.

The rooms were small, but the resolve was vast,
Each trial met, then surpassed.
Though fortune never came to call,
We stood unbroken, through it all.

I learned to cherish what could endure,
The love that never felt unsure.
For though the light was dim and faint,
We had each other, no complaint.

Hunger gnawed, but we still fought,
Laughing through what life had wrought.
Empty plates, the silence deep,
But we stood strong, we did not weep.

Though riches rarely touched our hands,
We built our wealth on firmer strands.
Kinship’s power, raw and true,
Was the only treasure we ever knew.

And when the storm threatened to consume,
We realized love could still bloom.
For beneath the weight, beyond the pain,
We found the strength to rise again.

.    .    .