Tonight Speak I Will

By Nidhi Dwivedi

Tonight speak I will,

For all my sisters are dead

And they are calling to me.

Tonight speak I will,

For I fear no man.

The worse that could happen isn't that bad.

For if I unite with them,

It would be an end but a happy one.

But my words shall vouch for the corpses

That keep screaming in dark

And for the walking dead.

Soft skin marked by the lashes of belt,

Blood stains on bed,

Pictures of her scarred breasts,

How much frustration you have?

For a man who hates so much,

Must have unbearable hate for himself.

The bars of her homes shout for help,

Ashamed of themselves

For they are too strong to let her out.

They beg for weakness.

The system that stands

Is groped by termites.

The nature that curses

Is degraded by arrogance.

The violence that lashes

Is infuriated by silence.

And you and I are partners in crime.

Slowly we watch the greenery die.

We lament and sob,

Then we lose control

And in that moment the castle crumbles down.

Tonight I dare to stop your raised hand.

I can slash it down if I must.

But my hand is ridden by bangles

And with every attack they dig deeper into my wrist.

I have bloody hands and bloody lips

But tonight speak I will.

For you are a liar

You keep secrets from your soul

I will speak in its ears

Your deeds of gore.

Tonight speak I will

I won't cry.

I will throw the Scarf away.

Bring my sisters to light.

Words shall echo the truths you hide

Tonight I will dance in moonlight.

By Nidhi Dwivedi