The first title I had for this piece was 'Street Children' but the idea of calling them children seemed wrong so I decided upon changing it to 'Children - Adults', however after having a brief review with my older sister, I've decided to have it called 'Kalsada' as tribute to the Filipino street children that I encounter every afternoon from school to home.

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Even I do not know a single word of Filipino, I read your original version out aloud... I love the alliterations which are very suitable for featuring the subject. Oh yes, children grow old and mature to quickly when they are not even allowed to be ... a child.
The lucky ones may be get adopted into a loving family abroad, but it will always keep them wondering why they were so unwanted. I've got a 23-year old nephew and a 21-year niece, originally from South - Korea, they were adopted as tiny babies through a legitimate agency, by my cousin and his wife, whose marriage stayed childless. Due to some laws, it was easier to adopt foreign children than children of our own nationality. (True but strange) They are doing well and are good students. I cannot bare to think what would have happened to them if they had been left on the streets of Seoul (or on the beach of Seoul, in my nephew's case) Now they only look Korean, they are more Belgian than Korean, but I have known adopted children to go back to their country as adults.
Thank you for having the courage to tackle this subject. I cannot judge your proficiency in Filipino, but as I said, it sounds as if the poem has got a good built up with alliterations working up to a climax!

Posted 1 Year Ago