This is how women in my country are respected,
In the very womb to avoid her birth she’s tested,
Mostly eradicated,
Over a son only by a few she’s selected,
And if mistakingly born coldly assassinated,
Not free to live as per her will,
She’s always directed,
If gets too loud or bold needs to be corrected,
Always inferior to a boy, always neglected,
Surrounded by demons, too often molested,
Her internal growth leaves her infected,
As on certain days in temples she’s restricted,
Her ability to conceive when not in play,
Leaves her defected,
Can’t carry her own, by the Father’s or husband’s name her identity is reflected,
Men are often engaged with many, like a commodity she is to be collected,
Often tied in matrimony unwantingly,
Her dreams, her volition entirely rejected,
Can’t freely mate, on the first night for purity she’s inspected,
If she doesn’t bleed very often deserted,
If she didn’t bring dowry simply incinerated,
Is she doesn’t conceive, the man isn’t at fault,
Shes the one who’s barren, she is solely suspected,
She’s the one who’s defected,
Raised to play with just one toy,
She’s just a reason for the penis to be erected,
On one hand she’s worshipped as a goddess,
On the other to violence she’s subjected,
With punches, kicks and belts she’s cruelly dissected,
Even when it’s a crime, figures show she’s highly violated,
But marital rape isn’t, her consent isn’t needed,
So by the husband she’s fearlessly injected,
The prevailing conditions are such that need to be perfected,
Our mindsets are so that need to be introspected,
Her sanctity, her freedom need to be resurrected,
And in a country where she’s so respected, she needs to be protected.

Naman Tandon
VSLLS
9 C