The Eyes of the Children

Sheila Banani

published in dialogue

1:2, p. 21

Los Angeles: 1986

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Sunday, April 17, news item: Peking: An alarmed Chinese government is moving to protect baby girls, who are being killed by the thousands in the countryside by parents who want a son for the one child that official policy allows them to have ... In some rural areas, boys under the age of 5 outnumber girls 5 to 1 ... Corpses of abandoned female infants were found in streams, caves, hillsides, fields... Clear pools of love-shining       hope held here newborn: mother-lover Where can I hide you,       mirror of me, but clean and new-souled? This dark world needs       strong men       victors for our wars       seers of our visions Rest easy here       under the leaves       under the water       under the stars Close your eyes Don’t look at me now. click for larger image