Poverty transcends the mere absence of money. It is a harrowing state of isolation, vulnerability, humiliation, and mistrust. It strips away the ability to distinguish between employers, exploiters, and abusers, blurring the lines until they become indistinguishable. It holds in contempt the simplistic illusion of meritocracy—the false belief that one’s efforts alone determine their rewards.

It is the heart-wrenching knowledge that your mother, with her arthritic joints, relentless insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, continues to work late into the night. She waits tables for less than minimum wage or pushes a janitor’s cart, cleaning the excrement-filled toilets of polished professionals. Each day, she sacrifices her health and well-being for the crumbs of subsistence.

Entering a room full of people, poverty reveals not just individuals but the violent systems and stark divisions that pervade society. It is the untreated mental illness, exacerbated by a reality that often mirrors a psychotic nightmare. It is the violence of abuse and assault, neglected or minimized by the very institutions meant to protect and serve.

Poverty is perpetual conflict. For the fortunate few poor children given the chance to “move up,” it is a cruel choice between remaining oppressed or collaborating with the oppressor. It is the soul-crushing mediocrity of those who look down upon them. In every facet, poverty is a relentless force, warping lives, and shattering dreams. It is a testament to the deep flaws and inequalities that pervade our world. 😔

©️ Beatriz Esmer