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Best Poems From
VERA SIDHWA
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21.
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Children on the Streets of India
The girl of twelve told me,
A different but then the same story,
That boy of four told me,
His idea of what life should be.
But I different from them,
And yet the same.
Couldn't understand that life's game,
Couldn't even spare THEM,
These very newly arrived, happy and eager ones.
Their laughter, giggles and grin,
Their baby souls with hardly a sin,
Would eventually face such challenges,
That even many adults wouldn't.
These were children of another reality.
But these children were just like others,
With conditions laid harshly down on them,
And called to live up to them,
If they could.
The pavement children of India watched,
The world swirl around them.
Yet they were not a part of that motion.
Their own world stood still, every minute and hour.
These children's eyes looked far away,
That was not a child's mode.
These children's eyes looked hungry,
For that food in that beggar's bowl.
I stood next to them,
I sat next to them.
I looked at them.
Then I did not looked at them.
I looked at them.
They looked at me.
Then for that one quantum which seemed an eternity,
My heart's soul shrieked.
Walking away from them,
Never resolving their angst,
Not knowing how to.
I now saw from the
Salty wet curtains of my eyes,
A small boy running to me,
With arms full of garlands and presents.
He with no possessions,
Bestowed gifts on me.
He with no possessions,
Smiled and smiled gleefully.
With the hugs he received at the airport's tarmac,
I turned my back to him to board my plane.
Back to the U.S.,
Never again to be the same.
Then returning a year later with toys,
Candies and smiles for India's children again.
Vera Sidhwa
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22.
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Desire Fire
I desired a toy one day,
Then a huge and pink kite.
Then I wanted a huge,
Toy truck in total blinding sight.
In teen-age years I wanted this boy,
His white teeth and long hair made him my joy.
This aching desire,
Set my heart on fire.
So then I desired other things,
Like a need to drink some beer,
Some red wine to let me think,
More about my dear.
It seemed to me that desire,
Consumed all I did.
It burned down all I wanted.
Turning into a flame leaping fire.
I still thought this desire,
Would make me weepingly joyful.
It burst into flames of excitement,
Then my complete destruction,
Into a fire burning down all.
Burning down total desire.
Vera Sidhwa
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23.
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I Shattered the Mirror
I kicked the mirror with my boot,
Then I finally saw how different I looked.
I loved looking at me.
So I kicked the mirror again,
I looked ever more different,
Just the way I wanted to look.
This time, I kicked the mirror,
Till it made sounds of sharp shattering.
I looked gorgeous now in front of this mirror.P
I wanted to be shattered again!
Post shattering, I screamed hooray,
For my shattered look became me and I smiled.
The reason I shattererd this mirror,
Was that this mirror was my own self-image,
This mirror showed me bad,
So the self-improvement,
Was a happy thing not sad.
Vera Sidhwa
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24.
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Jealousy
Your hair is wavy and your eyes are bright,
You look so beautiful at night,
Well, I can't stand you,
I'd like to be pretty too.
Your brain works so well,
And you are good in chemistry,
You do your experiments brilliantly,
Well I hate your clever brain,
I wish I had the same.
Your wisdom is unsurpassable,
And your words are cast in gold,
You talk as if you were ages old.
Well, I hate to listen to you
I wish I were wise too.
Your life is full of excitement,
And your time is so well spent,
You've never even had one accident
I don't know what to say or do.
Oh why wasn't I made like youi?
Vera Sidhwa
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