Young Motherhood

That hit and hurt

With the ferocity

Of the recession,

A young thin girl,

Of hardly nine

Carries her

Brother of seven

On her right hip,

So that his feet

Do not get dirty,

On the muddy Indian street;

It is common sight here ---

A young motherhood

Self-imposed,

Voluntary,

A burden heavy,

Borne willingly

By her

To make the

Little boy

Feel special,

Like China’s

Famous,

Pampered,

Little Emperors.