Sunday, July 15, 2007

How am I different?


Tell me how I am different? is it my color?
No I am not black, I earn no favour,

I live not in castles of gold, its not always peace,
I watch as the plate empties its bread, down to the last piece,

My father offers the world's prayers to the gods above,
I am his little girl, his hope, his prayer, his love,

I dream of an honour, of this thing so noble,
I strive, I watch the lamp die out on this table,

I forget to smile, I forget to eat, sleep has long been gone,
Maybe I have left this, maybe that, Im down to my last bone,

This day decides what is to come, what will I be,
I am an equal in every sense it seems to me,

Then it is snatched away from me, this dream,
Why, I fail to understand, I ask, even scream,

My father holds my hand, tears in eyes he says,
We are forward, your fate was decided in ancient days,

Tell me how I am different? did I not strive?
To save a life, to bring a new one, how could you deprive?

Tell me how I am different? did I not earn?
To relieve pain, how can I not learn?

Tell me how I am different? am I at fault?
this caste, this class I never saught,

And so I go on, on to what I can be, I know it wont be the same,
My passion, my spirit is gone, who should I blame?


I dedicate this poem to all those young minds who shared this dream, to those growing individuals who I hope will find strength in their hearts to live with this curse that our ancestors have bestowed our nation with!

No comments: