Let Me Be Born

By Iti Nautiyal

Swayed in the arms of moon

And bathed in the gleam of stars

Enjoyed every moment

Along with heavenly powers

As the fairy tale unfolds

Very soon I was told

Down there dwelt mother earth

A place where human took birth.

I came to my would be mother

Where I was to be born

Happy she was to feel

A little baby corn

I jumped and pounced

And turned around

Happy to be human born.

A fairy tale would come true

With happiness and love in queue.

As the days passed by

I felt warmth around

I had an elder sister too

My happiness knew no bounds.

Moving with my pace of growth

I crossed few months more

Whispers I could hear now

Surprisingly they loathed.

Whispers grew louder

And all I could hear

People condemned my birth

As again it was a girl

Hallucinations sounded deep down pain

Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!

Though my mother’s dream

I read her mind

Gentle sweet and loving

Pure beautiful and kind

In her dreams

She dreamt

A fearful wild attempt

Green gowns and white caps around

Knives and scissors made all sound

WHAT would they do

Kill me through

The very fear choked me down.

With all the might

And utter pain

I peeped into her dreams again

With jaws and clenched fist

I heard her loud scream

Stop! Stop! Save her life

I want my daughter back alive

In agony and outrage

She cupped her hands around my cage

Mother mother I moved a bit

And gave her my message

A flower born to a flower

And a bird to bird

A sea shell to a pearl

Oh! Mother

Then why Nay for a girl to girl.

You welcomed Laxmi

Goddess of wealth

Then for courage

Why not Kali or Gauri

Feel proud for womanhood

There is nothing to be sorry

Make me your strength

and WIDEN up your arms

give me your blessings

and all your charms

This is no time

Here to mourn

feel brave and let me be born.

I cry no more

I am ashamed

how brutally human

has played this game

deceiving womanhood every time

winner of such ruthless crime.

I mock upon

all in one

you want a son

to RUN a generation

and condemn a girl child

hurry soon and save one

or you may loose one.

By Iti Nautiyal