Ode to Lost Childhood

by Sheena Singh

Her little toes ached

scaling up

the lean mango tree..

Her tiny fingers hurt

Clinging on

Its twisted trunk;

Her head was hit

hopping over

a squeeze of mango pulp..

Breeze swept her off

to a land of thousand lakes..

Moonlight shone on her

as she tried to stand;

Her faded yellow dress

flung past the bush

Her puffy eyes poured

fetching its torn threads..

Hiding behind the greens

little could she gauge

the depth of her wounds;

The face of a brutal tale:

an ode to her lost childhood