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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