Blind, But Not Handicapped

                                    By:

                               Aditi Rao

India.
Beauty is but
Alien to me
My world is dark
I cannot see
I see not the flowers
Swaying in the breeze
I see not the birds
Perched on the trees
I see not the little children play
I see not the night turn into day
All this may make
My world seem bleak
Until the brighter points
You seek
Because I see not
I hear
I hear the little sparrow sing
I hear the distant churchbells ring
From little things, I derive joy
As would no seeing girl or boy
I work, and work some more
I beg not at anyone's door
For blind though I may be
I lack not in dignity.

Aditi Rao is an eighth grade student at Springsdale School in New Delhi.