No

Each child is gifted with 
a big bloated balloon.
Shop keeper greets all
with a ready-made smile.
A frown comes soon from
a beggar woman’s tongue.
Her son tugs at her sari,
stretches his index finger.
Receiving one rupee coin,
she begs again, ‘Give my 
child a balloon, please.’
But the shopkeeper puts
a ‘No’ on her palms.
They leave that apparel 
shop silently, dropping
‘No’ behind the crowd.
He doesn’t cry aloud,
scratching his head.
He saunters to the road,
hanging on her  arm. 
Sorrow never grows 
in a barren mind.





[First published in Literary The
Hatchet by the Pear Tree Press, US)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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