Friday, April 8, 2016

G - Ganga

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Be careful, my Mom warned me 
I was no longer a little girl 
Nor was I yet a woman 
I could no longer wear shorts

The knee length skirts, they had to go too
No more figure hugging t-shirts 
My breasts were developing you see 
You must stay away from temptation 

I followed all these rules rigidly
Still why was I being passed lewd comments
While walking down the street?
Why the wolf whistles and cat calls?

Weekly once a month I bled and bled 
Impure, I was brandished by all 
Confused by a betraying body 
I turned around me to seek clarity

But again I was told off 
For wanting to know too much
Concentrate on your studies 
Half baked things were fed to my ears

Oh Mom, why didn't you tell me the truth 
Didn't I deserve at least that?
Why did I have to learn it the hard way?
Why did it have to be through an act of betrayal?

That it was the skinny boy that I didn't even like
Showed me what it was to be a woman
That the things he did to me 
Made me feel ashamed than desired

Why didn't you tell me that  
I would wake up screaming for weeks
Or that it would be years before I even begin to heal?
And that my body would never be the same ever again

Why didn't you tell me that there were monsters not under the bed 
But in the corners of our home and street?
Was that what the being careful in your warning meant?
Who is to blame? Is it me or is it you?


Linking this post to the A to Z Challenge

23 comments:

  1. Lovely and intense lines Aathira.This is every girls story in the Indian society.I am not sure if many girls like Ganga will ever find the answer to whom to blame.I wish the mother and daughter must have some open conversation about realities around.

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    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's one thing that seldom happens in our society. Let's hope it changes soon. Thanks Rashmi.

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  2. Aathira, this made me pause and think about my conversations with my daughter while she was growing up. As mothers, it is our duty to inform and educate our babies all about their body and also about the predators that may lurk. Superb.
    @KalaRavi16 from
    Relax-N-Rave

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good to hear that you talked it openly with your daughter, Kala. That should be the norm everywhere.

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  3. ohh this is such a poignant write. I feel it is now the responsibility of every parent and teachers to talk openly with their kids and atleast give them a better picture without any stereotypes.
    Beautifully penned.

    A Whimsical Medley
    Twinkle Eyed Traveller

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is one responsibility that often gets overlooked, I have always felt. Thank you.

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    A very powerful poem. It's sad that it's true for so many.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's our society that tries to hide everything till it comes out in the open...is to blame. Nobody wants to discuss...as they are ashamed of...but hushed up voices can not be forced to be quite always. Great one :)

    Thoughts...Sushree

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    Replies
    1. Exactly. These are things that need to be addressed as a girl grows up. Thank you!

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  6. What you've written is so ubiquitous! Concentrate on studies, wear decent clothes, be home on time, don't talk to boys is what girls are given instructions about. Other than that, the other realities and how the world really sees them, how things will be coming to them,nobody cares to tell them!
    Beautiful piece :)

    Cheers
    Geets

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! The things that we need to understand are not even muttered. Thank you, Geetika :)

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  7. Gosh! It is so important to tell children what to do and also to report when things are not right. With girls, most parents miss that. Such a touching and sad piece.

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  8. your words are intense and strike right on the face..as they need to... talking and discussing shouldn't be a taboo in families.. at least between a mother and a daughter... a growing daughter needs knowledge not just instructions to blindly follow...

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Darling. If only more mothers spoke up...

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  9. So intense. No idea how this is going to change in our society. Talk, make them aware, teach boys to respect girls .. and pray for a better tomorrow.

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes that's all we can do, pray. Thank you.

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  10. Poignant, Aathira. I wish the mothers take care of their daughters more, make them aware and not just simply scare them away.

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