PREFACE
It is said that children are God’s gift to mankind. If
this is so, then perhaps God does his shopping in a variety of stores. While
some of his presents come wrapped in luxury and are delivered with cheer, there
are others that come without any frills and are dumped on footpaths. While some
of his bequests are a boon to Man, others prove to be more of a nuisance. And
while some can be categorized as ‘bundles of joy’ others are labeled as the
‘street urchins’. Nobody wants them. Nobody cares for them. In short, they are
a social distress.
It is also said that since God could not be present
everywhere on Earth, he appointed children. If this is so, unfortunately Man is
seeking remuneration in every place of worship but the pedestrian temple. This
poem is dedicated to all those divine ambassadors- the tiny waifs that spend
their entire lives, not getting the attention and respect that they duly
deserve. Instead, they are left on their own to wrestle with the world. Dreams
are their only recreation, work their only sport and experience their principal
teacher.
THE POEM.
I never went to any school
yet I learnt my first nursery rhyme
lying on my bruised back
on hard and rough pavements
gazing at the jet-black screen
up above, the open sky
staring at the twinkling stars
wondering what those diamonds were
I never went to any school
And yet I learnt to count
on my mother’s waist abacus
rib one, rib two, three and four
until I reached her blouse I tore
she asked me not to count anymore
I never went to any school
yet I knew a triangle
when father brought home
another woman.
I never went to any school
yet l learnt about tact
when passing world dropped a coin
I caught it with my begging bowl
I never went to any school
And yet I have been disciplined
by the long and strong hands of law
for crimes I did
for crimes I did not
I never went to any school
yet I learnt about gravity
each time I built a fancy castle
it came crashing down.
Yes, I never went to school
yet I was born just like you
sharp and wealthy
A smart street Arab am I!