Persuasion
you tell me
she is really good.
she wrapped five meters of cloth on her body
and it became an act of resistance and revolt.
That she sung “Hum dekhenge” in the odd times
And she still holds the status of bold.
Your eyes shine like a star
when you tell me
she defines courage.
That she made it to the front page of The Times.
That she is the first woman
to go for the moon,
to open the university,
to educate and school.
Your nose is red with pride
when you tell me
She is the first woman
to pilot the plane,
to proceed the business,
to run the palace,
to fund the river.
you take pride in the things
you never contributed to.
while
you also take pride
in telling me
that the women
of your house
do not pursue their dreams.
you take pride
in telling me
that what I dream of
is not a man’s cup of tea.
you take pride
in telling me
that a man has to forget
who he really is
in order to fulfill my dreams
//my dreams, what are they
except for my hopeful words
to reach out to people in dismay//
you saw me growing up, didn’t you?
You saw me through.
you saw that words
have made it easier
for me to survive, to live.
but you,
you take pride
in telling me
that if I choose you
it has to be without my dreams.
you take pride in not seeing
that you’re tearing me apart
While your delusional self
feels obliged to do so.
you saw me weave my dreams.
I nearly gave it all up and
made you a part of me.
But as I was trying to reach you,
i started to see blood
in my very own hands
and i could no longer live
while killing my dreams.
i could no longer
withhold the baggage
of the double standards
you hold.
so i carve an apology
on your hands
stating that
whatever is it that
you are looking for
is not in me.
// persuasion //