“
Now reading
The Chinese Doll
P. LAL
THE CHINESE DOLL
Black eyes, Bupsu,
like half almonds and a corner of cloud:
a drop of their sadness is sufficient.
You are a doll now, small-frocked.
You shall see sunshine
a shooting star
waters like silk and a laughing house of chocolate.
Hopscotch and hide-and-seek and a Chinese doll
petulant with Chitra
becoming Princess Zebunissa in the fairy tale of
Baghdad-
these are hidden in the black eyes.
The Snake-Charming Prince!
Your three years, Bupsu,
Hide them, hide them!