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A modern Cinderella story

Nandini Tyagi


The pebbles roughen their feet

as they walk the broken pavements

No cushion to cradle their toes.

The Children Without Slippers

Their soles are calloused 

Their heels, black with grime

They are the children without slippers


They walk, they play, they work

Some dance on the streets

Others beg from cars

The rest play on the side of the roads


Through the scorching hot ground in peak summer months

to the sharp, icy rocks that cut their soft feet

Their smiles never wane, their spirit never fades.


These are the children without slippers

Modern Cinderellas if you please

yet,

There will be no fairy godmother

or

Prince Charming and castle 

Their toes will stay barren

Their dreams unfulfilled

They will stay on the streets 

Pebbles, rocks, dirt

Hurting.

Cutting.

Tainting. 


But they don’t cry for help

As content as can be

With nothing and nobody to give them what they need

The children without slippers will smile

Today, tomorrow and the next time you will see

They aren’t angry

They live on

It’s their reality




Image Credits: leher.org


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