Let Me Be

A lusty cry heralded my entry
A slap on my tender bottom
and I was born - a girl child
some rejoiced, some did not
I have only known walls
be it a crib or a playpen
and later the walls of my
first home- my parents
Let me be free I cried out
in vain silently, as both
parents began to live
vicariously through me.
I was dressed to suit them
Given toys that they both
liked and longed to have
when they were children
All their pent up desires
and aspirations were now
imposed on little me, even
though I wished to be free
Silently I thrashed about wanting
to fly away unfettered like the
carefree sparrow on yonder tree
Chirruping gleefully in the sky
Then after all the ignominees of
transition from childhood, to
puberty and then adolescence
I finally reached majority
Now my walls were replaced
by other walls peopled by others
Married, I foolishly hoped to
fulfill all my pent up desires
My naivety was  soon dispelled
as I was expected to tow the
line as dictated by new elders
and my other half- better half?
Let me be, I cried again silently
and after becoming a mother
I relived my dreams through
my children and this cycle continues…

originally published @www.binaguptapoetry.com

When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of feminity she finally began to enjoy being a woman. -Betty Friedman, The Feminine Mystique, 1963
 

I am- Shakti

I am Radha
Happy n loving

I am Urvashi
beautiful n beguiling

I am Sita
Giving n caring

I am Savitri
Loyal to the 9th degree

I am Meera
Devoted no end

I am Saraswati
Knowledgeable n bright

I am Ganga
Quenching the thirsty

I am Annapurna
Feeding the masses

Yet, do not be fooled
Get on my wrong side

Then, I am Kali
And I can devour you!!!

I am An All Powerful Being
I am Shakti- a woman

Binaguptapoetry