Good girl

Good Girl

Maa, I have been a good girl haven’t I
Oiled my hair,combed and plaited it with care
Always with a bindi ,my forehead never bare
Draping my shawl so very properly
Not a hint ,one can see of my womanhood
Growing out  against my Kurti.

I have been a good girl and did what you told
Looked down at the ground, never acted loud and bold  
Hurried down the lane ,eyes averted as I cross the area where they lounged
Turning a deaf ear to their cat calls and insiduous talks.
Remained silent and walked on when they grabbed and pawed.
“Ignore them” you said,”Thank God from worse you were spared”
Coz you know the acid tales of girls who fought back and dared.

I have been a good girl and have done everything right
Yet why does my uncle enter my room every night?
Why does the man standing behind me in the bus grind?
Why does the senior manager try to touch me any chance he finds?

Enough!
Enough of the Why’s
I know now Maa
Your society created monsters of little boys
Taught that women are theirs to objectify
Created for their pleasure  to covet and to vie

But no more Maa
That will stop right now
I will start with my son and then my daughter
Teach them to see human beings in each other
Respect the person  for the values they embody
The feelings and intelligence that  make somebody .

My world will have good girls and good boys
Only the word “good” will be rightly  defined .