Getting Lost
My little daughter
she heard her friends calling her
she was going down the stairs to meet them
it was dark, she was scared ,she was taking careful steps.
She was holding a small open flame, little lamp,
she was cautiously keeping the lamp from the breeze with the corner of her sari.
I was on the roof watching the sky
in the dark night in springtime was full of stars.
Suddenly I heard my daughter crying
I ran down to see her.
While going down the stairs
a sudden gust of wind extinguished her lamp.
I asked her,’What is it Bami?’
She cried from downstairs, ‘I am lost.’
On that night of spring the sky was full of stars
I went back to the roof
while watching the stars I visualized as if I was a little girl like Bami
holding the corner of my blue sari
walking alone ever so slowly protecting the lamp.
If the lamp was put out, stopped giving light suddenly,
there will be an echo of a tearful voice from the whole sky,’I am lost.’
Sabethville 