One day my parents found me
Playing near the leper colony.
There was a big scene.
My mother shouted at the lepers
And they hung their heads as though it was all their fault,
And the children had nothing to say.
I was taken home in disgrace
And told all about leprosy and given a bath.
My clothes were thrown away
And the servants wouldn"t touch me for days.
So I took the marbles I"d won
And put them in my stepfather"s cupboard,
Hoping he"d catch leprosy from them.
6.
A slim dark youth with quiet
Eyes and a gentle quizzical smile,
Manohar. Fifteen, working in a small hotel.
He"d come from the hills and wanted to return,
I forget how we met
But I remember walking the dusty roads
With this gentle boy, who held my hand
And told me about his home, his mother,
His village, and the little river
At the bottom of the hill where the water
Ran blue and white and wonderful,
"When I go home, I"ll take you with me."
But we hadn"t enough money.
So I sold my bicycle for thirty rupees
And left a note in the dining room:
"Going away. Don"t worry-(hoping they would)-
I"ll come home
When I"ve grown up."
We crossed the rushing waters of the Ganga