Unanswered Questions Of An Innocent Childhood

by Kishan Negi
(GHAZIABAD (INDIA))

A little childhood collecting
Waste papers on a garbage dump
Asked me, “Am I borne to do this job?”
I had no answer

A childhood begging on the roadside
Asked me, “Is my childhood borne for begging?”
I had no answer to reply

A childhood cleaning utensils in a tea shop
Asked me, “Is his childhood borne
To clean defiled utensils in a tea stall?”
But I had no answer

A childhood breaking stones in scorching sun
Along a dirty roadside
Asked me, “Is his childhood borne to break stones?”
But I had no answer

A childhood running on the road in search of
The leftover food of others
Asked me, “Is his childhood borne to search
Leftover food on garbage dumps?”
But again I had no answer

A childhood standing in front of a school
Asked me, “Will this childhood ever get an education
In this school?”
But I had no answer

And a childhood carrying a load on his back
At a railway station
Asked me, “Is his childhood strong enough
To carry heavy loads at a tender age?”

Surprisingly, my knowledge, experience and
Spiritualism fell numb
Could not answer any of the questions
Raised by an innocent, candid, ignorant,
Naïve and guiltless childhood

Because never, my soul and heart knew,
That childhood is the shining hope of humanity
Could any human being answer
These unanswered questions?