Dirty Children

Dear Little Boy,

I see you on the bus

Chatting the name of you wares

You say it so much

That you don’t care what it is anymore

You must say it in your sleep

The accent of your mother’s tongue

Is heavy on the single word.

You are not selling chips

You sell CH EE ps

But I love you anyway.

Dear Little Girl,

I see you too,

With your baby brother on your hip

Your dress was once very pretty

But now it is dirty.

Your smile has holes

That will never be filled

You slips were washed

But they are not clean.

Your mama has gone to town

But when will she come back?

Don’t worry, I love you too.

Dear Little Children,

I saw you in my dreams

You were full of smiles

And you had much hope

In that dream you were a little dirty

But not from sweat and worries

The dirt was from your playing

You had no shoes because you kicked them off

In order to ran faster.

The songs you chanted were sweet songs

Your dolls were pretty toys.

I dreamed this because I love you.