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O Girl... Dear Friend.

O girl, dear girl,
What burdens do you bear?
O girl, dear girl,
What stories don’t you share?
O girl, dear girl,
Why do you cry in the dead of the night?
O girl, dear girl,
Why won’t you share your plight?

You have been born the eldest,
Yet you have been the most oppressed.
Responsibilities is how you see it,
You have a free soul, you seal it.

Your mother says life is adjustments.
Your neighboring aunty says you are so perfect.
Your friend says you are a sacrificer so great.
Never has anyone asked, if there is anything you want to say.

O girl, dear girl,
Why won’t you fight the injustice?
O girl, dear girl,
Why won’t you give yourself some much needed peace?
O girl, dear girl,
What scares you so much about men?
O girl, dear girl,
What lies behind your silent veil?

Your father says Uncle has taken care of the family.
Your grandmother says he has looked after you in your infancy.
Your aunty says he has always brought fortune to the house.
Never has anyone noticed how your body shivers when he is around.

You suffer for the crimes of another.
You believe yourself to be the unlucky one.
Unspeakable it is how he touched your innocent soul.
Yet you burden yourself with the scars that aren’t your fault.

O friend, dear friend,
I dream of the heinous act every moment
O friend, dear friend,
I face the scoundrel every second of the day.
O friend, dear friend,
I will tell my story, but who will understand my agony?
O friend, dear friend,
They would simply say, don’t break this family.

Family is sacred, yet I suffered
Unfortunate I am, so are many others.
But I am the perfect daughter, so I will remain.
Stepping out of that image will be transgression.

My parents will decide what is good for me, as they always have.
They will never take a stand for me, as they can’t.
I was born with a tongue, but never was I allowed a voice.
So has been my story, I will carry it to my grave.

O friend, dear friend,
I want to speak but I am scared of the judgment
O friend, dear friend,
I want to confront but I am scared to be wronged.
O friend, dear friend,
Everyone will find the faults in my character.
O friend, dear friend,
I am not the privileged one, please understand.
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Comments

Manjulika Pramod said…
Bang on!! Every word speaks of truth. This poem speaks for all the girls who go through silent sufferings.
23 August 2016 at 20:10
Unknown said…
Silent sufferings are the untold truth....very hard to forget....
These expressions of grievances gave me goosebumps...
7 September 2016 at 16:13

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