International Woman’s Day Special
Laxmi mopped the floor, swift and fast
She had to get rid of all the dirt and dust
Money was all she needed.
(Pic courtesy: Morguefile)
Cleaning houses one after another
Cursing her fate, cursing her past.
Saraswati stood still at the school gate
Dropping out of school was her only option
She must lift bricks instead of pen
To provide food and shelter
To protect her sisters from all the men.
Kali looked into the mirror
Bruises and cuts marked her
Blood smudged sindoor, tear stained fair face,
Submission to her husband and never to rebel
Was her only way to solace.
Ganga flicked back her straight hair
Adjusted her corset, fixed her make-up
She was ready to earn her bread
Pushed into prostitution
She lived life in shades of dark deep red.
Durga sat behind files unnoticed
While Vishnu, Rudra and Ram
Got promoted
All the late nights at office, all the insults
Added up to nothing at last.
Named after goddesses, our women live a life of irony
A life of curse, a slice of pain
Deep within our soul, we know
They will raise hell, when they try
For no one can live in content
Where Goddesses Cry……
Medley of Literary Pieces on International Woman’s Day
The Irrepressible ‘ She’ – a poem by Divya Rajgaria
I am no Goddess… – a poem about the everyday diva by Anindita Bose
Where Goddesses Cry – a thought-provoking poem by Rhiti Bose.
Woman – a poem by Daipayan Nair
Wish – a son remembers his mother poem by Amitava Nag
Short Stories
The Separation – a short story by Maya Khandelwal
The Last Night of My Life – a short story by Nikita Goel
Musings
Rise and Shine – a touching mother’s musing about her daughter by Santosh Bakaya
Book Review
Defiant Dreams: Tales of Everyday Divas – A Book Review – by Maya Khandelwal
