What Men Say !
Have no attachments you told us Another advised us to stop being dependent There was a voice that taunted us for being parasites The whole shifting of definitions of being women A piece of Dresden china Embalmed and perfumed like iced confectionary Sitting in a glass prison today Toiling in offices along with envious leering men Only to come home to undone dishes and hungry brats Censored for our attire Dictated about our lifestyle Eyes decorously downcast in the day Ready for slaughter as the sun set We like being ourselves We like having attachments We want to be looked after Does it mean we are frail Or that we need patronage Do we need advice for everything From what to eat and what to wear ? Perhaps you should try and watch us be You know , just be ?
Lily Swarn, multilingual poet, author, columnist is a gold medalist ,university colour holder, radio show host and Peace Ambassador. A Trellis of Ecstasy , Lilies of the Valley, The Gypsy Trail and History on my Plate are her highly acclaimed books in different genres . She has won over fifty international and national awards and her poetry has been translated into over sixteen languages. Her Urdu ghazals are set to music .