“I am a girl, a curse,
A fact I was made to realize
When I was brutally killed inside
Why?oh, my father wanted a boy”.
*********
"I am a human"
Though with an identity unclear
But I breathe and have life
May not know bad and dear
What is violence, I don’t know
But I know what love is
That which my uncle does to me
I feel bad, dirty and not nice
But he insists this is love
And that he loves me”
**********
“I am a jihadi, my mission is to kill
God wants this done and I’m his loved one
My chacha says this and he loves me too
But when I deny, I’m beaten black and blue
I see fire everywhere
I see blood all around
My six years of life, I don’t remember,
This is the way but
How it ought to be
My chachi says that
God loves thee!”
******
“I am an adult, I feel like that
What is it to play, which sunshine
I don’t know what you talk about
For I recognize only soot and darkness
A whip and a clout”
*********
“I am ten years old,
Know what all adults talk and do
I was raped by my brother and
Sold off by my own mother
And since then things remain the same.
I’m dressed in nice clothes
A man remarks, the other pinches
And another feels me all around
I’m awarded a pat and a good tip
If I do all and don’t protest or make a sound”.
“We all come together one day
Cry for things we hear they say
Wouldn’t it be better if we were not born?
But
Do we have a choice?
Its you, who brings us to this world,
Badness overflows, full of cruelty and dirt
But the time has come
When we want answer
An answer to our why’s
Why am I an unprivileged child?
You define the rules, you set the limits
You decide our best, you define us weak
You give us a future so dim and bleak
It is time now to make amends
High time now to take a stand
Repair your deaf ears
Lend the closed hand
Help us live, help us survive
We are the world
And it can be made nice, happy and bright!”
- Amrita. Singh
