NEVER HAVE I EVER

By SAHANA MANIKANDAN

I am in my early thirties

Spent nearly half my life in earth.

So many things are in list that I have not done,

And have many many ‘impossibilities’

In my life since my birth.

Among the so many unlucky, I am one.

In my whole life, until now

Never have I ever

Went alone to a beautiful place

That would be exclaimed as wow

Or bathed in a beautiful river

That gives me some solace.

Never have I ever

Near the cheering waves,

Enjoyed the full moon

With milky light everywhere it cover

And touching me the chill wind moves.

I am waiting to get that boon.

Never have I ever

Trekked through a thick forest.

Enjoying the beauty of the green,

Mother of our beautiful nature

And slept in a wild tent for rest

And wake up with the big Sun sheen.

Never have I ever

Got the freedom that men get.

As a typical Indian girl

With loads of cold rules I shiver.

Not only me but also the most girls I met

In the same pool we whirl.

And atlast never have I ever

Slept without tears, every night

Thinking of all the struggles of my life.

No matter how much you are clever,

In the battle of life you must fight

And struggle a lot to prove yourself.

Whatever you do and wherever you go

Freedom never smiles at you

Only because of your gender.

Always you receive a blow

‘Keep quiet, just a girl are you’

They say and always I wonder

Why a girl should keep quiet

Just because she is a girl?

To answer this, we should unite

And aloud say no and against them skirl.

By SAHANA MANIKANDAN