She

O’ he beat her so hard

Which no one could withstand

“Go!” He yelled,

“Don’t come back with an empty hand!”

“No one proffers to give me!” She cried

Feeling helpless and hopeless

Rubbernecking at the one who caged her smile

The one who imprisoned her happiness

“Well beg! Go beg! You ragged street rat!

Do you not get that

The wealth you are supposed to bring home every day

Is a part of my livelihood!” He would say

“I will not go!” She shrieked

“I will not go!” She reiterated

But with another hard stroke of the wrecked stick

Abandoned her to the snowy roads

O’ she was blue! Yes, she was!

This nightmare would never pause

She cried out “please give me hope to live

Your little penny is what I would have to give!”

No one paid heed to her, nor stopped to look

O’ i could write all this and make a book!

Her pale face and dilapidated clothes

Was ensuing her along the roads

She returned home crying, trembling with fear

Drawing back to her refuge, with many a tear

She, astounded at the sight of a stranger

Worried the imminent danger

“How much is she worth?” Asked he

“Three thousand rupees and not a penny more!”

“I will buy her and pay thou for sure!

But her capacity you must assure!”

“She is as healthy as a pound of fresh Christmas meat!

She has toiled in the rigid conditions of winter and heat!

She has earned me a good sum over the years

Sire, you ought to take her to fulfill your desire”

The girl went away, following the man

She looked back with hidden fury at her father

She stared one last look at her house which hid her dreams

And her aspirations, which could have flown like a stream….