by Pulkita Anand
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Is India a Safe Place for Women? Another Brutal Killing Raises the Question. The rape and murder of a trainee doctor at her own hospital has brought up, once again, uncomfortable truths about a country that wants to be a global leader. —The New York Times, August 22, 2024 |
This country is not for women
Its daughters are scared in the womb
This country is not for women
Its wives are pleading for their lives
This country is not for women
Its sisters are trampled by its brothers
This country is not for women
Its friends are betraying and selling friendship
This country is not for women
Its air is filled with lust
Where leery eyes want to defile innocence
This country is not for women
Its voices are crushing their voices
This country is not for women
Its growth lies in pushing them in the name of culture
This country is not for women
Its men feel pride in demeaning them
This country is not for women
Its fathers are not desiring their daughters
This country is not for women
Its daughters are scared in the womb
This country is not for women
Its wives are pleading for their lives
This country is not for women
Its sisters are trampled by its brothers
This country is not for women
Its friends are betraying and selling friendship
This country is not for women
Its air is filled with lust
Where leery eyes want to defile innocence
This country is not for women
Its voices are crushing their voices
This country is not for women
Its growth lies in pushing them in the name of culture
This country is not for women
Its men feel pride in demeaning them
This country is not for women
Its fathers are not desiring their daughters
This country is not for women
Its character lies in cursing them
Pulkita Anand is an avid reader of poetry. She has translated one short story collection Tribal Tales from Jhabua. Author of two children’s e-books, her recent eco-poetry collection is we were not born to be erased. Various journal publications include: Setu Journal, Shortstory Kids, The Criterion, Twist and Twain, Tint Journal, Indian Ruminations, Langlit, Ashvamegha, Lapis Lazuli, Conifer Call, The Creativity Webzine, WinC Magazine, Stanza Cannon, Superpresent, Madwomen in the Attic, Poetica, The Uglywriters, Impspired, Literary Yard, Academy of the Heart and Mind, Kritya, The Amazine, Carmina Magazine, and Asiatic.