Hello!
It’s been such a long time since I have written anything. Either I am lacking inspiration or I am simply disappointed with whatever my creative cells conjure. Staring at the empty document on the laptop screen or even the neat white paper on my table, I am drawing a blank everywhere. So to fill the void, I am uploading something I had written a long time ago, May of this year. This too was written after a long dry spell of two years. I am refusing to call it a ‘writer’s block’, because this is not what it is. It’s more than just not having anything to write about, its also about the disappointment that accompanies everything that I do manage to write down. So here’s something out in the open air- maybe just to remind myself that once upon a time it wasn’t so hard to articulate all the squibbly things in my head-
YOU ARE FIRST A GIRL
Talk nicely
Smile sweetly
Sing gently
Walk like a lady
Sit like a princess
Don’t do your lips like some drunken Joe’s mistress.
Now listen to me!
Don’t do your hair like that
It does not look decent
What are you wearing?
Where did you get this?
What have you done to your eyes?
Is this recent?
You should have been a man,
Your sister should have been a boy.
We prayed and prayed
But this must be Fate.
You are not boys but that’s alright
You are our girls and this is our delight.
We will show the world, we will bring you up just like them,
No, do not put up a fight!
There will be no further discussion,
Leave the room, you are a sore sight.
Listen to me! I know what is right
You will thank me in hindsight.
It is true, men are smarter
Your behaviour proves this time and again.
Is this what we get, for investing so much faith in you?
Such mediocre marks!
Such callousness!
Such frivolity!
You should have been a man
You would have known better.
But don’t worry, we are here
We love you, there’s no fear.
We are urban folk, we do not believe in all this gender chit-chat,
It’s your relatives who talk like that.
They think I have time; I should try for a son.
But we will prove them wrong
Let’s show them a girl child is nothing to shun.
Go out my girl! Explore the world!
Go ahead and live your life!
You were not raised to be someone else’s wife
Wait! What are you doing?
Where are you going?
Who is that in this photo?
Are you listening?
Don’t be arrogant, stop replying.
Have you forgotten?
You are a girl.
Yes, I read that article about equality.
But you are not that editor’s daughter, silly.
He doesn’t care for your safety.
I do.
We still live in this society.
And I am telling you, this is for your own good.
Now take care and behave.
You may think you are an adult.
Living freely with your newfound young cult.
But mark my words:
We live in this society,
There are racists and misogynists and sadists.
And all the wise discussions and debates in the world won’t save you.
So stay smart and come back by nine
Keep yourself covered and you will be fine
Don’t be seen, don’t be heard
That’s the best way to live I have discovered.
Listen to me, you must do the following
I am sorry, I know this is unfair
But we were born women and we must think of surviving.
You must be skilled like a cook
You must be adaptable like a river brook
You must run
You must hide
You must know when to cry
You must know when to defy
You can be free like the bird
Or caged inside the hearth
You are a girl; it’s your sin and pride.
Come here my child, don’t cry, don’t hide your face
It’s the biggest tragedy of the human race.
This is the 21st century but nothing has changed.
Always remember, you are first a girl.
knuckle-bump for the passionate heartbeat in this
Thank you! It’s a lot more personal than my usual style and I was hesitant to put it up at first, but I am glad you liked it 🙂
Excellent
Hi! Thank you so much, means a lot! 🙂