Scarred

By Sharmila Bhattacharjee

She was beautiful, tall and slender

Black fringes hung gently on her temples

A beautiful smile lit up her dimpled face

There was a spark in her eyes

She was not the one to surrender.

She might have seemed gentle, timid or shy

You might have thought her weak or scared

Or imagined her lips quiver in fright

But she is different, she is strong

Challenge her again and you’ll cry.

But you pushed her down – into the dungeon of darkness

She was the one you wronged

She is scarred, she is bruised

Her body worn out but her spirit unnerved

But she stands tall with a determined face.

Her heart burns with an indomitable fire

Love…no place… only anger and hate

No shackles will keep her restrained

She is the phoenix who rises from the ashes

Admit it, she’s the one you’re beginning to admire.

A scar runs down the side of her dimpled face

Crimson-red blood stains your unclean hands

You are the guilty one – you restricted her

The one you’re slowly beginning to fear

She is a woman – imperfectly perfect

She has and will always rise above all this.

By Sharmila Bhattacharjee