Muses

17. Fire of Freedom

When I was a child,
And I didn't understand much,
I never knew there existed discrimination between men and women,
I never knew that those fault lines ran deep within our society,
Which stifled every woman who ever walked the worshipped motherland of our country.

I didn't know that as women we didn't have to bow our heads in shame,
When someone talked about the natural process of menstruation and it's pain.
I didn't know that it was wrong,
When each night a woman went to bed after loving making so rough, leaving her in pain for so long.

When I was a child,
And I didn't know much,
I never understood why my father was the head of the family and not my mother.
I never understood that despite her countless sacrifices and endless pain, she could equal him never.

For every decision that ever had to be taken,
His word would be final.
One stern look would silence her on the matter,
Her opinion was hardly heard, considered absolutely never.

I've learnt a lot from my mother,
But I've learnt more about what not to do.
I know now, that respect comes when you give it to yourself first,
For a life without it, is meaningless and cursed.

When I was a child,
And I didn't read much,
I didn't know that it's not every woman's duty to endure the burdens of life alone.
And that she possess the strength to fight all horrors, known or unknown.

But now things have changed,
And I can't imagine living a life where I have no freedom,
I need my voice to be heard and I need the power to make my own decisions.
And for this I have to break the shackles of this blind society,
To rise and shine, and make my own identity.

Now I'm no longer a child,
And I have realized this much,
That if I want to see a new light, I have to ignite a fire within myself for the sake of my mother,
And free her from the cage of darkness, to make both our lives brighter.