Filthy Childhood Poem by Hanan Muzafar

Little feet in plastic shoes,
torn shirts,
And filthy trousers;
curly uncut hair.

Pale faces of poverty;
finding diamonds in dumps:
Wet knitted socks,
on lean legs,
in a stolen childhood.

Boiled carrots,
And peanuts;
shivering bodies,
And aching hands:
Only cold winter.

Empty pockets,
pretending rich;
well mannered,
yet ill treated.

Don't you listen!
I say;
show them you're happy:
Alas! Chap face betrayed.

In a laughing circus;
jokers coming out:
A circus of pain.