Ankhon mei paani,
Pet mei anna nahi,
Tears into the eyes,
Food not in the belly.
Into the hamlet homes,
Throwing the ashes from the earthen oven
And washing the utensils.
The poor girl-child of India, neglected an ignored,
Half-fed and half-clothed,
Clumsy and soiled,
I can see her helping her mother
In household works,
Carrying her younger brother in her lap.
Her frock is faded and torn,
The hair unoiled,
She taking food,
Just the left-overs of her brother,
Late in the day.
Father’s home is not her home
As she has to go to another home,
A daughter not own,
But of the other men,
O, how can it be?