Sunday, March 2, 2008


Ever seen the faces of the children of the streets?
Those filthy, dirty dregs of deprivation
Living under the bare sky on the bare ground
Fighting dogs of poverty and wolves of starvation.

Ever seen the faces of children begging in the market?
Maybe you have never felt their pain
asking over and over for a paisa, a coin
Rejected again.... Dejected again.

Ever seen the kids eating out of the trash?
they squabble over the tiny last scrap
they celebrate their 'discovery' with joy
Licking and sucking on the wrap.

Ever seen the woman cling to the sick baby?
have you ever seen the helplessness and her fears
for the piece of her flesh she loves and cares
now she has naught for him, than tears.

Ever seen the old man white with age?
I wonder where the son left his old man
to die, I am sure, and he hasn't still
pottering about with his shaky hands.

Ever seen Poverty from close
where you can really smell what it thinks
Ever thought what it might
be thinking about where it lies curled
Or have you only thought about how bad it looks, and stinks
and turned your face like the rest of the world....

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Sam,
Read yr poems realised that how my little son who used to sing nursery rhymes has grown into a mature, sensitive and philosophical young man. I realised that i tried to teach u that marks r imp but morality not less, compition is imp but participation also matters. Sensitivity is what i expect from u but actions for those sensitive issues r most imp. Whar r v doing for those street children? Lets do a bit to make the world a better place . I luv u and proud of U
amma

Unknown said...

thanks ma