Bring In A Change

Source:  Google

Womens' day has come and gone

Let us look at facts, of romantic notions shorne

We claim independence, we are liberated we say

But facts point out the other way

Take a look at the news every morn

At the injustice by womankind borne

Raped by strangers, by kith and kin

Starved by parents, thrown at birth into bins

Women are their own enemies as so often is said

Even more so from the time they are wed

Parents willing to pay anything of them to get rid

Willing in tens of thousands for a groom to bid

And woe betide if her own partner she should find

There are many who this state of affairs would mind

How dare she decide who should be her mate

Ask the “khaps”, her brothers who are all filled with hate

A “decent” “well brought-up”girl should wait

For her parents to find her the right mate

It is not in our “rich culture” to date

She must marry the person who is handed to her by “fate”

Her dreams are shattered from the word go

Mil, Sil being the cause of many a woe

“Bring more money from your parents” they say

If she can't she is slaughtered one day

Husband beats her mercilessly

And visits another woman shamelessly

The wife's job for her is cut out

Cook, clean, produce kids, her life is a rut

Shackled to date by chains of “culture” and “tradition”

Which ensures she gets no remission

From her miserable, wretched existence

Only death can be the ultimate deliverance

This is of the majority the condition

And if you think the solution is “education”

Think again, for in our country it is only a word

Which means passing exams, getting certificates, becoming a nerd

Our moral police are eternally alert

When it comes to “traditional values” and anyone in a skirt

Traditions do not apply to men

Culture is not something to be protected by them

And then our “respect” for women and Goddesses we assert

While day in and day out their interests we hurt

Nothing has changed since Joan at the stakes was burnt

Isn't it sad, to date nothing better has been learnt

In order a real change in society to effect

All negative values need to completely reject

We need to change the way we think

To throw out such practices that so utterly stink

A civilized society if we wish to be

Every individual needs to be free

From practices which their freedom of expression stifle

And with their dignity and basic human rights trifle

A society where a woman is free

To prosperity is the ultimate key

Where women are happy there the Gods dwell

Where they are not, there life is a hell

If a change we really want

Don't allow anything you to daunt

For change must inevitably start with “me”

Not with granny, uncle, she or he.