She looks at him playing with pieces of paper
She watches his hands as they pick up the pen
She is a wistful spectator of carefree actions
Defined as the sole privilege of men.
Going about her daily work
Surrounded by life, yet quite alone
Taking solace in all things familiar, yet
Heart aching for pleasures unknown.
She passes by the old school building
Like everyday, quietly sets down her urn
Straining her eyes, hidden by the door
The boys are unwilling, but she’s desperate to learn.
She yearns for education, to go where no one has tread before
But she’s of age now, and must be married off instead.
Gazing into the heavens, reaching out for the stars
Her dreams all shattered, her life is a farce.
A voice is heard, she speaks out at last
Unheard, unheeded, frail, withdrawn
The solitary voice falters in the silence
Defeated, she falls, and her heart is torn.
They laugh bitterly at her fruitless endeavor
Tears fill her eyes, she’s imprisoned forever.
Is there a new morality?
One day, some day but not just yet.
There’s need for old shackles to be cast away
Traditions to be re-built, new rules to be set.
Have we moved forward, has India progressed?
The gap between men and women compressed?
Are the counsels of history thus to be unheeded
And change to occur, except where needed?
It’s time to wake up, to gain what we lack
For each pace forward, there’s been a step back.
It’s time to gaze into the horizon
It’s time to welcome, face-first, the dawn
And be swept along as change unfolds
And face with courage what future holds.
Shreya
1 comment:
I think this is one of the most beautiful poems I have ever come across. The poem is very Schmaltzy and Poignant. I hope you keep writing poems like these :)
Post a Comment