SORRY, MOTHER
My mother always told me
to keep my head down and
my mouth shut,
For loud eyes and
sharp words do
us little girls
no good.
My mother always told me
to keep my guard up
against boys in my class
who spoke softly and
had nice words tumbling out
In tenderness.
My mother always told me
to not walk through certain lanes
after certain hours of the day,
For the men in three-days old
shirts, reeking of something other
than sweat of the day’s work,
always had something evil in
their eyes, and more so
in their minds.
I was not even fifteen
when I first realised
that mother dearest did not know
the best.
My mother never told me
of how evils are not restricted
to stanky men from shady lanes.
My mother forgot to mention
how sweet words are not
just a school boy’s tool.
My mother missed out
on how keeping my mouth clamped
would never be enough.
My mother did not tell me
how evil can lurk behind
clean shirts commanding respect,
or stern voices demanding deference.
And now, I don’t know what
I will tell my daughter
to save her,
but I do know what I will
tell my son to never be.
This poem is written by Shireen Khan, an ex-student of Funlish.
Bio:-
A literature student, an avid reader, a little lost in the eyes of nature.
I'm just another girl trying to create my own story. One word at a time.
I'm just another girl trying to create my own story. One word at a time.
Connect with us on social media:-
Comments
Post a Comment