Paper-Picker

Dedicated to the Streetchildren of the world.


V1 He would wake up at dawn
While the other kids slept on
His grubby sack thrown over his shoulder
He would start his day in search of discarded paper

V2 His clothes were as tattered
As the paper he gathered
While he stalked the city on foot
Sore little feet thrust deep into oversized boots

V3 At the end of the day
He sold the paper away
All for the price of a single bowl of rice
Sometimes he wished he could have just a little bit more
It was time for him to grow
It was time that he should grow

CH Paper-picker, paper-picker
Picking waste-paper
From morn to dusk
Just for a bowl of rice (X3)

V4 On the pavement he would sleep
And sometimes he would weep
When the roar of a train brought him awake
For he always dreamt that he lived in a silver castle

V5 His dreams came true
From rags to riches he grew
There are bowls of rice by the score
But now he has no time for even one more

V6 For he walks all night
While the other paper-pickers
Are sleeping Oh! So tight!
For his paper-picking days have only begun
He’s a Super Paper-Picker
Picking paper – Paper-money!

CH Paper-picker, Paper-picker
Picking waste-paper
From morn to dusk
Just for a bowl of rice


Noel Gama
Daman, 26.9.1991