I believe

I believe (or To Wislawa Zymborska) 

I believe in children and dogs

and tortoises such as those my son likes 

I believe in Nayyera's prayers but not my own 

I believe in mixing prejudice with self-awareness 

I believe in a rocking chair 

I believe we were born equivalent, not equal 

I believe in a brisk winter walk in Central Park 

 I believe in jumping in puddles through a monsoon storm 

 I believe in Melbourne trams (and oh! they are slow) 

 I believe I will have a happy death 

 I believe in the goodness of you

 Written 26th May 1999

Who made me so?

Written 1975

I
The shadows fall, the noise is less
Except in the opposite place
People stream out of the movie hall
I hold out my hand and hide my face

Who knows my humiliation
My misery, my fallen fate
Some give with true love to help
Others with eyes filled with hate

I walk away from the crowd for whom
Money is easy-come easy-go
I am a beggar, yes I am
But who made me so?

II
The door opens, I hear a male voice
Tis another customer, yes it is
I have to satisfy his passionate hunger
And pretend that I am in bliss

"Oh God"! I cry, "Why have you
chosen me to be the sufferer?
While society looks on at me
With mockery and with laughter"

I can never refuse them
Tho' I so badly want to say no
I am a prostitute, yes I am
But who made me so?

III
I enter the gates of the orphanage
I want to run away
I wish I had a family
A life happy and gay

To have someone to call one's own
To be loved, cherished and bless'd
To have someone to understand
When a day is ruined and messed

I weep inwardly and hope ceaselessly
That I find someone to belong to
I am an orphan, yes I am
But who made me so?