The little angel
looks around,walks
making music through
anklets tied to her bony ankles
I sit in the car, impatient at a traffic light
In scorching heat, rivulets of sweat run
down my spine; and
suddenly her little hands stick on
the window of my car
I shrink back...black, beady eyes stare at me
And I see the horror in those eyes for the first time
Innocent face breaks into a smile
showing dirges of poverty
Huh- a pride of father's harvest....burns on!
She cups her hand, grubby with dirt and asks for alms
Why! you scum of the society, I say to myself
A voice whispers in my head....
Why blame a child with colors so strong?
Cowering beneath a monstrous ego,
I succeed in thinking unconventionally....
I take out a crisp ten rupee note and place it on her hand
she smiles back filling every latitude of my heart with love..
Humanity hasn't exhausted even though the rulers and nations have
Exhaustion is mental...think differently; feed the poor
Let their blown-empty bellies be full with food
Bless them, purify yourself by humanity's blood
And then may be...
we can prevent a child begging in this universe!
very true! Di and very sad. We often clean up our homes but not our neighbourhood. Charity begins from home. Very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteTakes one to see one I guess. :))) Thanks Akila..
DeleteSad but powerful story, what a beautiful little girl
ReplyDeleteYeah, isn't she...mindlovemisery!! Thanks for your words of appreciation... :))
Deletea sorry tale of our country...Humanity it seems is a lost trait...and your thoughts...depict the pure unfeigned personality of yours...!!!
ReplyDeleteAnjan...a common sight indeed... her life's misery quotient knows no bounds.... yet... she manages to keep herself smiling. Awww..I am an emotional fool :))Thanks much!
DeleteOh, Panchali, this tugged at my heart strings mightily. It is so easy sometime to turn away from those who beg.... You are so right, you can't blame a child. I remember one time when we toured in Thailand, and there was a young woman who held a deformed baby on the other side of the fence....begging. The guide cautioned our group to ignore, which we did. But I will never forget that sad scene. What a good person you were to give to this child, Panchali. Somehow I believe it made a difference. She is probably used to being ignored....and you SAW her and responded. As I said, the poem tugs at my heart strings.
ReplyDeleteMary,
DeleteKnowing you.. I am not surprised. We've all heard many stories on urchins of India. Its really not easy to ignore!!
The thing is... I saw the girl. She looked into my eyes and grinned... somehow... everything became simple after that. :))
Thanks a lot!
Panchali, I so love the entire idea of "The Gift of Humanity". Your gift to her, of course, but also the bigger vision of rcognizing that while nations and leaders may be in conflict and chaos, human to human, we can each connect. I hope that child meets many more kindnesses and grows beyond her poverty. Bless you for your big heart and your wonderful poem.
ReplyDeleteSherry, Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. And thanks for the words of appreciation. I was just trying to present the shining side of a gloomy situation ... :)))))
DeleteThanks so much, my friend.
Ah!! very heart felt poem. This scene is common on our India roads and it has become a way of life for us and for those children also. But if we wish we can do so much for them. Thanks for this poem.
ReplyDeleteA common malady indeed...and we come to terms with it shamefacedly. Thanks Vandana.
DeleteI love your poem and your gift!
ReplyDeleteI think we need to be reminded of humanity!
We tend to get blind to all of the pain and sadness-but we need to remember who we are!
I'm so happy I found your poem...
YOU touched my heart!
Bless you~
@>----------------
Ella...I am so happy that I managed to communicate what I wanted to...thanks for being here :))
Deleteyou have touched us again..with those real words and real lines..you are right..we think to change the system and not help the little ones..but who will? It is better to help them for that day..at least they will have a meal..loved it Di.
ReplyDeleteFiF...It is great to get your approva. Thanks a lot.
DeleteIt is truly shameful that our govt can not provide two square meals a day and leave kids like this girl hungry!!
Thanks for the visit and the wonderful words of appreciation. They mean much to me..xoxo
This is so sad. We feel so helpless looking at those innocent faces. A moving poem.
ReplyDeleteSaru, it is sad indeed!!In India, hunger and poverty persist amid growth and makes one feels even more helpless...
DeleteThank you for your encouraging words and for coming by...:))
I stalk you. I come by and check all the replies :)
DeleteYou are too good for my ego girl...! I am humbled...:))
Deletehugzzzz:)
Like you, I am compelled to share what I can, whenever I can, releasing judgment and fear.
ReplyDeleteYou've a wonderful heart, Kim. Thanks for the approval...means a lot! Thanks for the wonderful prompt..:))
DeleteHi Panchali, this is superb. Your poem reflects your feeling, with a milk of human kindness flowing through your veins. The girl will bless you all her life. Such small mercies matter a lot to them. Hats off to you!!
ReplyDeleteUsha, hmmm... milk of human kindness, yes. There are beggars all around in India and frankly I do nothing about it, but I do surely feel for them ...so, at times, I try to help (especially the kids), whenever possible :-)) It is rather depressing !
DeleteThanks a lot :))
I liked the positive feel in the poem, despite all drudgery and all wrong if we all decide at individual level, things can definitely change!
ReplyDelete'Bless them, purify yourself by humanity's blood
And then may be...
we can prevent a child begging in this universe!' this definitely so true and this is the power of humanity!
I am so glad you enjoyed this effort.. Thanks for the visit, Kislaya... :))))
DeleteReality hard to digest.
ReplyDeleteOh...yes:(((
DeleteThanks Rajesh.
Touching, Moving! Poor girl. Love he way she's smiling...unaware of the world awaiting her :( A great tribute to every girl!
ReplyDeleteI hope the effort realign our thinking regarding these small urchins...they need us! Thanks Bushra!:)
DeleteA good part of India lives in dirt and you can't walk along the road without seeing cupped and grubby hands crunching for alms.A gem of poetry, I like this line: 'Innocent face breaks into smile, showing dirges of poverty,
ReplyDeleteYou said it, Easwar!! Thanks for the compliments..means a lot:))
DeleteYour cute poem reaffirms the image i have of you--long live "emotional fools"!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIndu, You really make me so happy... did you know that...? Thanks and hugz..:))
DeleteThis poem touched my heart .. its such a bliss feeling when you are associate or volunteer to donate or giveaway something to the less fortunate ! loved it .. the picture as well as the poem !
ReplyDeleteNope readerheaven...I am not physically associated with any org that donates or feeds these unfortunates...but, mentally I keep myself attached to them, when I spot them on the roads...and help the kid-urchins whenever I see them hungry on the road.
DeleteThe pic robbed my heart too. Thanks for being here with your precious comment. Hope to see you more often...:)
Appreciate your wonderful thought and verse
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deepak...Your comment has delighted me completely...!!
DeleteVery touching... I love that glint of hope in her eyes!
ReplyDeleteMe too...me!! Good to see you after a long time, dear. Thanks for your presence nd feedback.:))
DeleteSuch a heart wrenching scene, a poor child begging, such a wonderful conclusion, a generous soul giving. Beautiful, Panchali.
ReplyDeleteLisa, Thanks for your visit and feedback. I appreciate it very much.... :))
DeleteIt is such a serious issue.
ReplyDeleteOur society and we are committing a crime allowing child begging in streets.
It is ..sad indeed. Life is indeed not rosy... not always... not for everyone... :)))
DeleteThanks you for your visit and feedback... :)) Many thanks!!
love your heart in the end...so hard to see kids go hungry, they should not...we need more willing to make that kind of difference....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brian! They need our help for sure. Thanks for dropping in and for writing the 'specific' message. I appreciate you taking the time to do it... :))
DeleteOh, that's very sad, shocking ...
ReplyDeleteI can not understand that children are hungry ...
We are destroying so much food...
I send greetings from distant Polish.
Lucia
Greetings Lucia...The ultimate emphasis is indeed on not wasting any food... You haven't got it wrong...no child should go hungry!!
DeleteThanks a lot.
Best wishes,
Panchali
We often neglect such things, or rather, we do not give importance to these issues. But as you point it out, these are really sensitive topics that need full attention. We, as members of this society, should perform our duties and do whatever we can to help those in need.
ReplyDeleteThe world is not balancing.One side people sleep on beds of amassed currencies and on the other side people don't have even 6'' land to sleep peacefully.really-heart-touching theme and poem.
ReplyDeleteIts very true in India.........
ReplyDelete