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An Ode to the Bullies
Updated: Sep 21, 2022
By Tanushree Choudhury
I walked into a previously known place
A place now full of spider webs as laces
A place, I called my home, humble abode for years
For my outburst, here no one could hear
I touched each wall as I pass from there
A crack forming from the touch, so fair and square
I picked up a picture, a picture full of happy faces
My eyes forever, the hollow in each heart traces
I moved to a well-kept drawer, one filled with objects of emotions
A familiar object, graced me with its presence
The room full of sheer blackness, not a hint of light
A symbol, for having no one in my hindsight
I took a seat in the center taking in the ambience
For every memory, in the end passes into transience
Closing my eyes, I enter a trance, one that troubles my eternal calm
A trance where the previously held picture comes alive
The smiling faces, back to their usual “popularity seeking” strive
The method you may ask? A simple girl with no inhibitions
Procedure involving mockery, body shaming and the usual pressuring
No one, ready however to hear her tales and tribulations
Categorised as the outcast by the entire group
Like the lost cause of a unified troop
Left alone to rot in the corner for 6 hours
As if, for a certain crime she was put behind bars
As I opened my eyes, back to reality
I realise, I've grown into a human, no longer a casualty
Getting up, I walk to the only window all curtained
opening ,the window to new opportunities I’ve ascertained
The light shines on the dark room
The broken walls of insecurity stand shy somehow
The picture of my so called tormentors
My certificate of not being among the benders
Brought down then, by the words of others
Proved them wrong by showing that “I don't bother”
Confidence I had, will always stay
No matter what you do or say
I am what I am thanks to you
For you taught me judging a book by its cover is absolutely untrue
Look into those eyes that weep for every passing moment
Moments , that could have been captured
Look into those charcoal covered eyes disguising the pain hiding facades
The same ones which classified lies as a life threatening hazard
Look into those eyes, glistening with tears
Each tear representing the fall for succumbing to her fears
Hear the screams that leave her soul
When every day she lets an unknown man touch her scars of broken goals
Hear her anklets thudding on the floor,
Just to reduce the volume of the strangers woes from leaving the door
Hear her music through the windows
Pleading for mercy to be released from these sorrows.
The aroma of the freshly made Garland of flowers
Can you smell the drops of dew that don't belong to her
The beautiful scent for any girl as people call it
Can you smell the acid in it?
The acid she has to wear everyday to fill her stomach after a long hard day
*To the beautiful lady if she gets to read it*
Speak your heart out and you will be heard
If not by those that oppress you, but those that can hold your hand and walk with you
Speak, for your holding your tongue now won't help your future daughters
Speak, for silence has only ever brought you pain and mocking laughter's
Speak, for the world deserves to hear your victory
That you fought for all those, who for peace have only given up on their sense of speech.
By Tanushree Choudhury