Being woman!

These lines struck me when I heard a man quoting, "No respectable woman gets raped!" on TV.

She might not have flawless skin

Yet the purest of all hearts lies within 

Not the beauty to be stared at & admired

Fragile and humane is she; with emotions evoked 

She is a daring mother and a doting wife

Her life surrendered to her dear ones' strife

She sacrifices her happiness for their sake

For their smiles, she puts hers at stake

The world teases her as she walks by

It calls her names like 'timid' and 'shy'

In some minds, thoughts of demeaning her brood

Her sacred body those fiends want to intrude

Nobody understands the angst she undergoes

Nor the reason behind the tear that overflows

As she conceals all pain and fear in her abdomen

She has every reason to be proud to be a woman

Author's Note

Those provocative words of that man on BBC awakened me from the bubble I was living in!
"Don't teach me what to wear, teach your son not to rape!"

Reviews

[Nadia Gerassimenko]

I can't believe people give reasons why women get raped and why it's their faults, they should have avoided it. One must have very little compassion for others to say such things.

I loved this poem. Flows smoothly and holds much wisdom and insight. And tells a story of a heartbreaking past in a very dignified manner.

[sereenaoutloud]

strong and powerful. I love this. Your point is so very true, it shouldn't matter what we wear, or look like. Respect doesn't have a size, color, or gender!

[Samhitha Mopati]

Thanks Sereena!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like that quote...i also like this poem...being a woman is enough reason to show respect, we don't need any other reason...even though there a million.

[Samhitha Mopati]

Thanks! :)

[Amaris Grove]

This is incredible, Samhitha. The line "As she conceals all pain and fear in her abdomen" hit me the hardest, I think. Perhaps I interpreted it incorrectly, but I saw that as her rapist impregnated her. That happened to me, so I very much like this piece. It's powerful and thought provoking, and absolutely realistic.

Thank you for sharing.

[Samhitha Mopati]

You are welcome, Amaris! Let us just hope for a better world in the future :)

[....................]

How we look and how we are perceived by others do not always accurately depict who we are. It's obvious that this woman is a force to be reckoned with: one who sacrifices everything to make sure he family is looked after. It's sad that there are many out there who believe that violence towards women is somehow brought about by women themselves because of how they dress or carry themselves. A local paper in a city I once lived in did a piece called "Strip Maul" regarding a street where a strip of bars were located and where women faced sexual harassment, and in some cases assault on a regular basis. The author of the piece suggested this takes place because "what do they expect when they walk down drunken streets scantly clothed." You can imagine there was much outrage over the piece and rightly so. You poem just reminded me of that incident which took place nearly twenty years ago and causes me to ask: how much further have we come? Thanks for sharing.

[Samhitha Mopati]

And twenty years later, we have this man making provocative comments on an international platform. It is ironical to say that we live in a society that accepts technological advancements easily, but not moral values and respectful behavior towards females!
Finally, you're welcome FT !























car games with blinkers

[....................]

A sad state if you ask me.

[ANTO]

Oops I forgot to ask - did you mean 'caring' instead of 'daring' ?

[Samhitha Mopati]

I meant 'daring' because a mother is boldly partial towards her child! She will revolt even against the slightest scar meted out to him(her).

[ANTO]

Yes - totally understand dear writer. :)

[ANTO]

Well said Samitha. I didnt see that (BBC item) but Im with you 100%.
This mindset needs to be highllighted and challenged every time.
Great write!!

[Samhitha Mopati]

Thank you for bearing with my frustration. This poem is a venting out of my frustration, though I've tried to keep it as non-violent as possible!