In the Vancouver LEAD program, youth at Britannia, an inner-city school, explored their world through photography and language. They sought out metaphors for their community. Eli’s depth of concern for his neighbours shines through in both his photo and poem. Eli displays such empathy, insight and kindness in his art. How do we treat people? Do we discard, dismiss or ignore them, or acknowledge and nurture them? His haunting poem calls us to action…whose cup can we help to fill?
Half Full or Half Empty?
By: Eli
An empty cup.
This cup symbolizes loneliness.
In the East Vancouver community,
people unfortunately struggle with mental health.
The cup is just sitting there,
waiting to be filled,
just like people who are lonely.
They want that void filled.
But that emptiness will soon be consumed,
perhaps by a loved one or a friend.
We are all waiting for our own cups to be filled.
Perhaps we will have to do it ourselves?