Kongthei's Tragic Endeavors: A Tale of Prostitution and Desperation

About this poem

This sonnet, "Kongthei's Persistence," tells the tragic story of a woman named Kongthei who is forced to sell her body in order to provide for her family. Set in the vicinity of Police Bazaar street of Shillong,Meghalaya , the poem paints a picture of dire poverty and the lack of alternative means of earning a livelihood. The use of complex English words such as "exigency," "quagmire," "acrimony," and "opprobrium" emphasizes the dire circumstances Kongthei finds herself in. The poem also highlights Kongthei's resilience and determination in the face of adversity, as well as the emotional toll of her profession. The final two lines reveal that Kongthei was trained by someone named Kongda, who runs a sex racket business, and that she was driven to this profession due to poverty in her village of Bhoi. The sonnet is a powerful commentary on the societal issues of poverty, prostitution and exploitation. more »