Pages from my Anthology

                 Dear (Wo)men

There she is born,
Saved from scans and scorn,
They rejoiced 'Lakshmi Beti Aayi hai'
With pink frock and nails long.


Her frock replaced by salwar kameez,
Pouty lips, appealing gait and chubby cheeks,
She tries to discover yet hide clear,
From the peeping eyes on her adoslescent smear.


Lover she is; bottled with passion within,
Strength and will to lead the crowd,
Head held high and carrying high heels
Home and work she equally deals.

Time now comes to hold the hands of the man she loves,
A bond of love she pours, none in vain,
To build what she calls 'her new home'
With promises to stand, eat and dine,
Together both create 'divine'.


And yes, now her stomach begins to show,
A new life as they call 'grows',
She prepares for another role-
Turning a new leaf,
A mother she is-
  Tender, abnegating and protective.


And in this mix, she forgets who she is,
Call her Durga, Mary or call her 'she'
Her lips only carve an arch to smile,
'She' is a wo(man), a part of you,
Racing beside you till the last mile.