Be a woman

Be a woman

When I said that

my friends laughed

some of them, women

be a man

my ears were trained thus

what does it mean

I asked myself

strength, power, confidence

with which

you protect or kill women

you marry or molest women

you work and relegate women

in broad daylight

in my friend’s family

a zamindar

it was being man

to throw a course which

his spouse cooked for him

in front of everyone

and accept the one his mother

brought

mother was endlessly happy

so was this machine, everyone

what you should do

how you should be

where you should go

when you should come

Wait… now I understand

what is to be a man

a matter of pride

nothing to hide

free from shame

untouched, free from blame

Be a man? Then?

When I said that

my friends laughed

some of them, women

my inner voice screeched

unheard, unjudged

​​​​​​​untouched, unsung
be a woman